Resource & Action Plan for Sexual Orientation
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Introduction
The GLBT-RP was originally created during the summer of 2000, as a plan for the University's response to students who are experiencing harassment or assault based on sexual orientation. Several University offices and community agencies are included as points of contact.

Each agency under the plan is required to follow the guidelines within the Plan, including having a representative attend an annual training facilitated by the Office of the Dean of Students and forwarding specified non-identifying statistical information (blind report) to the Harassment and Assault Prevention Coordinator in the Office of the Dean of Students.

Although different agencies may have their own procedures in dealing with harassment, the common goal is to provide support to the person experiencing harassment. The Plan is written to incorporate services both for the student experiencing harassment and/or assault based on sexual orientation and to the accused.

The manual is accessible to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, the Queer Network for Change (QNC) and CAMP office, The Women's Center, at the University Sexual Harassment Office in Vance Hall, Student Health Services and Housing and Residential Education. It will also be accessible off the Office of the Dean of Students webpage.

The Manual is divided into five sections:

How to Use the Manual
Each of the Sections of the Manual, which are reviewed and updated annually, contain valuable information for a student experiencing HABSO, the accused student, a support person or any University personnel likely to respond to or receive questions about harassment based on sexual orientation. At the beginning of the fall semester, each agency, department or organization receiving this Manual will receive updated information.

University Policy
This section contains the Policy on Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination, the University's official policy statement.

University Resources
This section contains information about services available on campus for students involved in harassment and/or assault based on sexual orientation. Most services are free, but some do require fees.

Community Resources
This section contains information about non-University agencies that provide services and/or information to assist those involved with harassment based on sexual orientation, including law enforcement and the Orange County Rape Crisis Center.

University Office/Agency Protocols and Procedures
This section contains University protocols and procedures as drafted by the respective agencies. Contact information, where appropriate, is also included.

Appendices
This section includes training materials, North Carolina laws, other related University Policies, educational information and agency reporting forms.

University Policy
In an effort to be inclusive of all survivors of harassment based on sexual orientation, regardless of gender, the use of "person being harassed" or "the harassed" and "harasser" or "accused student" or gender inclusive pronouns, will be used where appropriate. Also the acronym HABSO will be used in place of "harassment and assault based on sexual orientation."

The Non-Discrimination Policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status. Any complaints alleging failure of this institution to follow this policy should be brought to the attention of the Affirmative Action Officer. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is open to people of all races and actively seeks to promote diversity in the student population by recruiting and enrolling a larger number of Black, female, and other minorities as students.

Policy on Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination
The University has adopted an internal policy on non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. That policy provides that educational and employment decisions should be based on individuals' abilities and qualifications and should not be based on irrelevant factors or personal characteristics that have no connection with academic abilities or job preference. Among the traditional factors, which are generally "irrelevant" are race, sex, religion, and national origin. It is the policy of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that individuals' sexual orientation be treated in the same manner. Such a policy ensures that only relevant factors are considered and that equitable and consistent standards of conduct and performance are applied. This policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation does not apply to the University's relationship with outside organizations, including the federal government, the military, ROTC, and private employers. Copies of the full text of this policy are available from each student's dean, director, or department chair, or from the Office of the Dean of Students or Employee Relations Division of the University Personnel Department.

Addendum

University Resources

Community Resources

University Office/Agency Protocol and Procedures

Procedure:

Step I: Identification
Notification of Incident to University Offices.
The person being harassed self-identifies to one or more of the following:

  1. Law Enforcement
    University Police
    Chapel Hill Police, Carrboro Police
    Orange County Sheriff
    Durham Police
  2. Division of Student Affairs
    • Medical Service:
      • Student Health Services, James A. Taylor Student Health Building
      • NC Hospitals Emergency Department, 101 Manning Drive
    • Counseling and Psychological Services, James A. Taylor Student Health Building
    • Office of the Dean of Students, 450 Ridge Rd., SASB Building (basement):
      • Dean of Students
      • Harassment and Assault Coordinator
      • Judicial Programs Officer
      • Academic Assistance
      • Student Attorney General, Carolina Union Room 207
  3. Housing and Residential Education, Carr Building

Step II: Action
In accordance with their own policies, University offices make a reasonable effort to:

Step III: Notification

A. At the request of the student experiencing HABSO, the office of first response will assist in reporting the harassment and/or assault based on sexual orientation to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Regardless of whether the incident is reported to the police, the office of first response will provide information about services available to the harassed person. At the request of this person, the office of first response will make referrals to other services that are requested.

Students accused of harassment and/or assault based on sexual orientation may obtain confidential assistance and counseling at Student Health Services and at Counseling and Psychological Services. These providers will not disclose confidential information without the student's prior consent except under the circumstances outlined in subsection C. 2. below or in response to a civil or criminal subpoena or court order.

Accused students are also encouraged to use the services offered by the Division of Student Affairs and other offices, but should be aware that confidential assistance and counseling are only available at Student Health Services and Counseling and Psychological Services.

B. If the person experiencing the HABSO is in a life-threatening situation, the office of first response will contact emergency personnel.

C. Steps may need to be taken to protect the University Community if the person being harassed elects not to make a formal report to the police under step 3. A. above, if the alleged harassment occurred on University premises or the premises of an organization or group officially recognized by the University.

  1. Provider Agencies, except as noted in C.2. below, will report, as soon as practical, the following information to the Dean of Students, or designate, and the University Police:
    • The allegation that harassment based on sexual orientation occurred;
    • Any information about the surrounding circumstances (e.g., time, general location, weapons or vehicles involved) that might assist the University Police to establish the assailant's pattern of behavior so it can be compared with other reports of harassment based on sexual orientation for similarities. Information that may allow the person experiencing the harassment and/or assault to be identified will not be reported. For example, the general location of the incident should be reported, but not the exact address. The Dean of Students or designate will, in turn, report this to the University Legal Staff.

  2. In accordance with North Carolina statutory provisions governing Physician/Patient privilege and Psychologist/Client privilege, Student Health Service providers, including providers in Counseling and Psychological Services, will make the report referred to in C.1. only with the consent of the harassed person, or in accordance with the recognized professional standards or if the information received indicates this is another identifiable potential victim. In the latter case, the appropriate law enforcement agency must be notified to provide necessary protection.

D. During the last week of each academic semester and end of second summer sessions, each University office or community agency will forward to the Office of the Dean of Students a completed confidential report of all known incidents of HABSO. The information collected will assist the University in determining support services needed and the type and content of educational programs that should be developed for the University community. The anonymous data also provides statistical information for the annual campus security report required by the Campus Security Act.

Each report will contain the following information:

  1. Number of incidents of harassment/assault based on sexual orientation reported to the campus office or agency during the semester
  2. General location of the harassment/assault based on sexual orientation (i.e., on or off campus)
  3. When, in relationship to the report, the harassment/assault based on sexual orientation occurred (within the past month, within the past six months, within the past year)
  4. Whether the victim was enrolled at the time of the harassment and/or assault.
  5. Whether the harassment and/or assault based on sexual orientation has been reported to other agencies

Step IV: Follow-Up
Case follow-up, Community Education, Response Plan Evaluation, and Annual Report (coordinated by Office of the Dean of Students):

Individual office or agency follow-up may occur with the student experiencing HABSO or accused student's consent.

The Office of the Dean of Students, in cooperation with other University organizations (such as the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Issues Committee) or community agencies that wish to participate, will facilitate efforts to provide campus-wide education on issues of sexual orientation. At least annually, the Office of the Dean of Students will convene a meeting of University Agency providers (and invite community agencies to participate) to review the Response Plan, evaluate its effectiveness and make changes as needed. The annual report of incidents of harassment based on sexual orientation, community education efforts, and response plan operation will be compiled in conjunction with the Response Plan Committee and forwarded to the Chancellor by the Office of the Dean of Students.

HOW TO, AND WHERE TO GO, TO REPORT AN INCIDENT:

The protocols and procedures about HABSO of any and all departments must follow the basic premises of this University Response Plan.

University offices and agencies' protocols and procedures vary in length, breadth, and depth. However, each university office or agency protocol fosters a safe atmosphere in which a student may report an incident. Each department maintains the student's confidentiality and provides the student with information regarding the available resources.

The next several pages are dedicated to university office and agency protocols and procedures. If you have any specific questions about a protocol or procedure, please contact the specific office or the Office of the Dean of Students at (919) 966-4042.

The following offices/agencies' protocols and procedures are contained in this section:

Office of the Dean of Students

Harassment based on Sexual Orientation Response Protocol

The Harassment and Assault Prevention Coordinator [HAPC] within this office is the personnel who receives reports of incidents of harassment based on sexual orientation. Any staff member within the Office of the Dean of Students can receive a report in the HAPC's absence.

Regardless of whether the person being harassed has reported to another University office, the HAPC will provide information about the services available to the student. It is the goal of this office that the person being harassed be empowered to make her/his own informed decisions.

The following steps outline the HAPC's response:

Student Judicial System

This document only represents a set of guidelines; because flexibility is important in dealing with these issues, there may be good reasons for varying from these guidelines in a given case.

In accordance with the University's response to HABSO, the Student Judicial System recognizes the need to provide options for students who are being harassed based on sexual orientation. At the same time, the System must ensure that the rights of students accused of harassment are also protected. The following procedures are designed to protect the rights of both parties. Both parties are also to be kept informed as the case progresses through the Student Judicial System.

Training for the Student Judicial System

The participants in the Student Judicial System receive training from the Harassment and Assault Prevention Coordinator, the Judicial Programs Officer and other Service Providers.

Contact Numbers

Housing and Residential Education

Written for use by Department of University Housing and Residential Education Staff, including Resident Advisors (RAs), Assistant Area Directors (AADs), Area Directors (ADs), when a student has reported to them that she/he has experienced HABSO. It is important to remember to empower the student at all times to enable them to make her/his own choices. It is also critical for RAs, AADs, and ADs, to respect and fulfill their responsibility to inform their respective supervisor of the incident to ensure that support and resources are provided to the student.

Academic Affairs

Response Protocol for HABSO

The following protocol has been designed and approved for the University's various Colleges and Professional Schools.

Identification of a student who has been harassed based on sexual orientation or is an alleged assailant and is in need of academic relief is to be made to the designated representative (see attached listing) of the appropriate college or professional school. Academic relief may take a variety of forms (exam excuse, dropping a course, or withdrawal), as deemed appropriate after consultation between the academic officer and the student. A student who has been involved in harassment based on sexual orientation need not provide details after identification, but may rely on the designated representative to provide verification when necessary.

All attempts should be made to provide confidentiality for the student as much as academic procedures allow.

Referrals should be made to contact persons in other departments or agencies (Student Health, Housing, etc) as requested by the student. A list of contacts is attached to the overall University Response Plan.

The contact person should fill out a report form as soon as possible and send to the Dean of Students office.
If you do not see your school listed below, please contact the Office of the Dean of Students (966-4042) and they will assist you.

Academic Contacts

Department of Athletics

Response Protocol for HABSO

The following protocol has been developed for use in conjunction with the GLBT Response Plan. Questions about the protocol should be directed to Dr. Janice Hilliard at 966-4102.

Dr. Hilliard has been selected by the Department of Athletics as contact person to assist in harassment based on sexual orientation situations. Identification of a student-athlete, who has been involved in an incident of harassment based on sexual orientation and is in need of relief from athletic participation or other assistance, is to be made to Dr. Hilliard. A student-athlete, who has been involved in harassment based on sexual orientation incident, need not provide details after verification, but may rely on the contact person to provide verification when necessary.

Every attempt will be made, consistent with the Department's responsibilities pursuant to the Response Plan, the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance, and University disciplinary policies, to protect the privacy of the student-athlete.

Dr. Hilliard will assist with referrals in other appropriate departments and agencies (Colleges and Professional Schools, Student Health, Housing, etc.) as requested by the student. A list of contacts is attached to the overall University Response Plan. As contact person for the department, Dr. Hilliard will also fill out required non-identifying reports for the Dean of Students office.

Counseling and Psychological Services Staff (CAPS)

Counseling And Psychological Services (CAPS) staff members will be available to see students receiving harassment based on sexual orientation when they are initially seen at SHS and/or for counseling later.
For people who present during the day, the nurse notifies CAPS for an Urgent Care and Consultation appointment. The assigned CAPS personnel will be responsible for immediate care if indicated, as well as making sure that future appointments are made available to the student.

For people who present during the night, the nurse will assess whether immediate psychological intervention is necessary. If psychiatric consultation is needed, the usual protocol of calling the Psychiatric Resident will be followed. If the student was sexually assaulted, rape crisis companions are available from the Orange County Rape Crisis Center to help support both the survivor and her/his partner.

University Response Plan

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recognizes the importance of assisting a student who is being harassed based on sexual orientation in regaining a sense of personal control over her/his life and the decisions she/he makes. In this respect, several University agencies coordinate efforts to offer services to the student and others upon whom harassment based on sexual orientation might have an impact.

This Response Plan establishes a cooperative course of action for the University in event of harassment based on sexual orientation of a UNC-CH student. The assistance of University agencies is equally available to the person being harassed and the accused, provided they are UNC-CH students.

Certain University agencies have been identified as being available for assistance to a student being harassed based on sexual orientation. In addition to providing service particular to its area of responsibility (i.e., medical, psychological, law enforcement), Response Plan agencies will be available to inform the student of other service providers and will, at her/his request, help the student contact an agency from which she/he wishes to seek assistance. (See Response Plan.)

PHONE NUMBERS:

Rape Crisis Center 967-7273 or 1-800-616-3696
Family Violence Prevention Center 929-7122 or 1-866-929-7122
UNC-CH Police 962-2120
Chapel Hill Police 968-2760
Carrboro Police 942-8541
UNCH paging 966-4113
UNCH ER 966-4721

 

University Resources

Where to go on campus for assistance

Many offices on campus provide assistance to students in crisis. A student who is experiencing issues related to harassment based on sexual orientation is a student who may be in crisis. This student often needs various types of assistance-academic, financial, medical, psychological and housing assistance. Sometimes, this student in crisis does not know what resources are available.

The following pages guide the student through many of the University resources available. This listing is not necessarily each and every resource available, but contains a significant number of available resources. Every attempt was made to insure that the information included in this list is accurate, however, departments and agencies do sometimes change the types and numbers of services they provide. When and if the services provided do change, the student should contact the Harassment and Assault Prevention Coordinator to determine where else the student may seek out such service.

University Resources

Law Enforcement:

Division of Student Affairs:

Medical Services:

  • Student Health Service, 966-3650 or after hours 966-2281
  • Emergency Room, 966-5054 or 966-4721

Counseling Services:

  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), 966-3658

Office of the Dean of Students:

  • Dean of Students, 966-4042
  • Harassment and Assault Coordinator, 966-4042
  • Judicial Programs Officer, 966-4042
  • Academic Assistance, 966-4042

Student Attorney General's Office:

  • Student Attorney General, 966-4084

Housing and Residential Education:

  • Student and Staff Services, 962-5406

University Sexual Harassment Office:

Transportation:

 

Community Resources

Several agencies within the Chapel Hill-Carrboro-Orange County community provide services, which are available to University of North Carolina students. Municipalities support many of these agencies, such as law enforcement agencies. Other agencies are non-profit and are supported through private donations and the United Way.

Again, every effort was made to secure the most accurate information as of this publishing. However, the University does not, nor is not, responsible for any changes in the services offered by any of the agencies. Every effort will be made to maintain updated information for the services provided by the agencies. Some of the agencies request fees for service.

It is the student's responsibility to work out any payment arrangements if fees are required. It is also the student's responsibility to find out what her/his responsibilities are regarding seeking assistance from the community agency.
Caveat: The University is not connected in any way to any of these agencies. Any fees accrued as a result of using the service are solely the responsibility of the student and are not included as a part of student fees nor attached to the student's University account.

Resources where incidents of HABSO can be reported and that provide services complementing those offered through the University:

 

Appendices

FAQ's, forms, laws, educational information and University policies

The following information is being provided in this manual in response to frequent requests for availability of certain materials. Much of the material included does not fit anywhere else in the book, but fits nicely in an appendices section.

This section is subject to constant updating and additions. Updates and additions should include information stating whether the document replaces in whole or in part and also where to place the document.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Where can a student report harassment based on sexual orientation?

LIST OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES IN THE RESPONSE PLAN
(all area codes are 919 unless otherwise noted)

Center for Healthy Student Behaviors CB# 7470, Student Health Bldg. 966-6586
Counseling and Psychological Services CB# 7471, Student Health Bldg. 966-3658
Department of Athletics CB# 8500, 082A Dean Smith Activities Center 962-6000
General College and Arts and Sciences CB# 3110, 116 Steele Building 966-5116
Graduate School CB# 4010, 200 Bynum Hall 962-6329
Housing and Residential Education CB# 5500, Carr Building 962-5406
Office of the Dean of Students CB# 5100, 01 Steele Building 966-4042
School of Journalism CB# 3365, 117 Carroll Hall 962-1204
School of Law CB# 3380, Van-Hecke Wettach Hall 962-5106
Student Attorney General's Office CB# 5210, 207 Student Union 966-4084
Student Health Services CB# 7470, Student Health Bldg. 966-2281
Student Legal Services CB# 5210, 065A Carolina Union 962-5875
Transportation Office CB# 1605, 720 Airport Road, Suite 230, 386 962-7036
University Police/Public Safety CB# 1600, 430A Security Services Building 962-8100
University Sexual Harassment Office CB# 1043, 104 Vance Hall 962-3026
Women's Health Clinic CB# 7470, Student Health Building (day) 966-3650 (night) 966-2281
Carrboro Police Department   968-7709
Chapel Hill Police Department   968-2760
Chapel Hill Women's Center   968-4610
Hillsborough Police Department   732-9381
Orange County Rape Crisis Center  

968-4647 (business line)
967-7273 or
1-800-616-3696 (24 Hour Crisis Line)

Orange County District Attorney   732-9334
Orange County Public Defender's Office   968-0200
Orange County Sheriff's Office   942-6300 (Chapel Hill)
644-3050 (Hillsborough)
Family Violence Prevention Center   929-7122 or
1-866-929-7122 (24 Hour Crisis Line)
Orange-Person-Chatham Area Program   (Mental Health) 913-4000
UNC Hospitals   966-4131 (Information)
966-5643 (Emergency Medicine)
966-4738 (Psychiatric Services)





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