- Listen without judging.
- Help assure them the assault(s) was not their fault.
- Let them know they do not have to manage this crisis alone.
- Encourage the victim to seek medical care and report the assault to law enforcement.
- If the perpetrator is an LSSC employee or student or if the assault occurred at LSSC, encourage the victim to report the incident to a member of the Title IX Team (see "How to File a Title IX Report/Complaint”).
- Encourage the victim to talk to a mental health professional, an advocate or someone they trust.
Free psychological counseling (up to 5 free sessions) is available to currently enrolled students who have experienced harassment via the Student Assistance Program. Faculty and staff can obtain up to 5 free counseling sessions through the Employee Assistance Program. Please visit the respective program links for information on how to access these resources.
A criminal complaint can be filed against a student, faculty member, staff member or other person through the local police department. For internal non-criminal complaints, there is a process for complaints against students and a separate process for complaints against employees or other individuals affiliated with LSSC. For more information see "How to File a Title IX Report/Complaint”.
Where can I go for more information about Title IX or sexual harassment/discrimination?
You may contact the Title IX Coordinator or any member of our Title IX Team for advice and information regarding any form of sexual discrimination/harassment/violence at LSSC.
Title IX Coordinator:
Rebecca K. Nathanson
Executive Director, Campus Safety
Title IX Coordinator
Lake-Sumter State College
9501 US Highway 441
Leesburg, FL 34788
(352) 323-3615
Information shared with designated community professionals, referred to in this Procedure as External Confidential Resources, will be disclosed only with the individual's express written permission.
External Confidential Resources will not share information about an individual (including whether that individual has received services) with anyone, including the College, without the individual's express written permission, unless there is a continuing threat of serious violence to the patient/client or to others or there is a legal obligation to reveal such information (e.g., suspected abuse or neglect of a minor).
External Confidential resources for students can be obtained through the Student Assistance Program; external confidential resources for faculty and staff can be found through the Employee Assistance Program.
The College wishes to create a safe environment in which individuals are unafraid to discuss concerns. We will keep information reported confidential to the extent permitted by law. However, absolute confidentiality of the harassment/discrimination allegation and the identity of the complainant cannot be guaranteed because the College must also consider fairness to the individual accused, the safety and welfare of all members of the College community, and applicable State and Federal laws.
Retaliation against an individual who has filed a Title IX complaint is prohibited at LSSC. The College strongly encourages students to report any incident of sexual harassment, sexual violence, or other types of sexual misconduct. LSSC takes such reports very seriously and prohibits retaliation. Retaliation is conduct causing any interference, coercion, restraint or reprisal against a person filing a complaint of discrimination/harassment or assisting in any way in the investigation and resolution of a complaint. Retaliation is a violation of College Procedure. Any individual who engages in Retaliation will be subject to prompt and appropriate disciplinary action. Individuals who have a concern about potential or actual Retaliation should contact the Title IX Coordinator for assistance in addressing the concern. If the concern about Retaliation involves the Title IX Coordinator or the Associate Vice President of Human Resources, an individual may contact the Internal Auditor.
Report it- then seek support, do not go it alone
Seek a safe location and trusted individual to be with you away from the perpetrator
Preserve any evidence of the attack (See tips in “How to File a Title IX Report/Complaint”).
Report the attack or incident immediately to law enforcement\
Seek medical care as soon as possible
Examinations can be performed by an emergency room physician or gynecologist. They are available and specially trained to work with victims of sexual assault (More information can be found in “Title IX Resources”)
Report the attack or incident immediately to the Title IX Coordinator or a Title IX Deputy so appropriate action can be taken on campus (see How to File a Title IX Report/Complaint”)
Healing from sexual assault takes time and support, counseling services are available for students and employees (see “Title IX Resources”)
LSSC’s Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct Administrative Procedure defines Consent as follows:
Consent is the communication of an affirmative, conscious, and freely made decision by each participant to engage in agreed upon forms of sexual contact
Consent requires an outward demonstration, through understandable words or actions, which conveys a clear willingness to engage in sexual contact
Consent cannot to be inferred from silence, passivity, or a lack of resistance, and relying on non-verbal communication alone may result in a violation of this Procedure. For example, a person who does not physically resist or verbally refuse sexual contact may not necessarily be giving Consent.
There is no requirement that an individual verbally or physically resist unwelcome sexual contact for there to be a violation of this Procedure.
Consent cannot be inferred from an existing or previous dating or sexual relationship. Even in the context of a relationship, there must be mutual Consent to engage in sexual contact for each occasion and each form of sexual contact.
Consent to one form of sexual contact does not constitute Consent to any other form of sexual contact, nor does Consent to sexual c ontact with one person constitute Consent to sexual contact with any other person.
Additionally, Consent to sexual contact on one occasion is not Consent to engage in sexual contact on another occasion.
Consent cannot be obtained by Coercion or Force or by taking advantage of a person's inability to give Consent because of Incapacitation or other circumstances.
A person who has given Consent to engage in sexual contact may withdraw Consent at any time. However, withdrawal of Consent requires an outward demonstration, through understandable words or actions that clearly conveys that a party is no longer willing to engage in sexual contact. Once Consent is withdrawn, the sexual contact must cease immediately.
Note that generally in Florida, consent cannot legally be given by a minor under the age of 18, with certain specified statutory exceptions.
LSSC is committed to an educational and work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, free from harassment and or/discrimination. Accordingly, it is the policy of LSSC that unlawful harassment/discrimination, by employees; students or non-employees will not be tolerated. Please see LSSC’s Non-Discrimination Statement.
LSSC has several more specific policies and procedures that address sexual harassment/discrimination and sexual violence (in addition to other forms of harassment/discrimination and misconduct). Policies applicable to alleged perpetrators of sexual harassment/discrimination including sexual violence who are students:
Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct Administrative Procedure
LSSC Student Code of Conduct
Policies applicable to alleged perpetrators of sexual harassment/discrimination including sexual violence who are not students but are affiliated with LSSC:
Anti-Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy
Procedures for Resolution of Discrimination/Harassment Complaints
All LSSC Procedures can be found on our Administrative Procedure Handbook
LSSC’s Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct Administrative Procedure applies to all faculty, staff, students, as well as college vendors, contractors, visitors, guests, and third parties, and parties associated with the campus community, and prohibits sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.