Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Misconduct

Such as sexual assault, gender-based harassment, stalking, intimate partner violence, sexual harassment)

Most sexual assaults are committed by someone the survivor knows. Studies show that approximately 80% of women reporting sexual assaults knew their accused. If you think you have experienced non-consensual sexual misconduct, whether by force, coercion, or inability to give consent, please know that it is not your fault and there are resources available.

If you are in immediate danger, call Public Safety at203-254-4090 or 911. Public Safety can connect you with a University Counselor 24/7. To learn more about medical, reporting, and safety options, call the confidential hotline at the Center for Family Justice 203-333-2233

Note: Students under the age of 21 who have been drinking will receive amnesty when seeking help after an assault. Students who are undocumented may seek services and apply for amnesty through the U-Visa.

Based on statistics, most sexual assaults are committed by someone you met in class, at a party or through a friend. You may feel pressured from mutual friends to not file a report or you might fear getting the accused in trouble, but you should keep in mind sexual assault is not only against University policy, it is also a crime.

Yes. You can call the local police where your assault occurred. In the town of Fairfield, you can call Fairfield Police or State Police. Public Safety can help you contact the appropriate agency. If the police are notified, it is up to you whether to proceed with a complaint or an investigation. Call the Fairfield Police Department Detective Bureau at 203-254-4840 if you want to talk to someone unofficially.

If your friend shares with you that they have survived a sexual assault, it’s important to keep this information private and refer them to get help immediately. You can ask trained resident assistants, Counseling & Psychological Services, or the Office of the Dean of Students to assist you with the referral process. They can help you talk to your friend about all of the options and resources available, both at Fairfield University and in the greater community.

As a friend you may experience secondary trauma. There are resources for you through Counseling & Psychological Services and The Center for Family Justice hotline. If your presence is supportive to the survivor, you are welcome to accompany them when seeking counseling services, medical attention or filing a report.

Support your friend by validating their feelings about the experience. Do not question if the survivor was actually assaulted. Stay attuned to the survivor’s attitude and don’t assume or dictate how they must feel.

If you wish to file a report or seek help from Public Safety, the police, or a resident assistant, the disclosure will be private and confidential between all necessary professional personnel such as the Title IX Coordinator, Dean of Students, and other necessary participants to the investigation and hearing process. If at any point you wish to withdraw a complaint and maintain confidentiality, you can. The University has an obligation to continue to investigate to determine patterns and larger risks within the community. If there appears to be a threat to campus, a campus-wide notification will be made regarding an incident of sexual or domestic violence. All measures will be taken to maintain confidentiality. In some cases when incidents of domestic violence, violence, threats of violence, or stalking have been reported to Fairfield Police, they have to act to ensure the safety of the victim.

Federal and state laws protect the identity of survivors of sexual assault. Your name will not be released to the media. Please notify the Title IX Coordinator or any other professional staff if you feel your confidentiality and privacy has been compromised.

Public Safety can help if you are in immediate danger or if you want to file a report. You may request to meet with an individual who shares the same gender identity as you.

If you file a report at Public Safety, you are welcome to have a friend or trained crisis counselor present. Public Safety will notify Fairfield Police if a report is filed. Fairfield Police will contact the survivor to talk about options outside of the University's process. You have the authority to withdraw a complaint at any time.

The decision to go to the hospital is entirely yours. If you have been assaulted, either by force, coercion, or by a non-violent offense, seeking medical attention is recommended. You will be evaluated for risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection. Prophylactic medication may be prescribed. An evidence collection kit examination is offered as part of the medical assessment in cases of sexual assault. Try not to bathe, shower, change or wash your clothes, eat, drink, smoke, gargle or urinate prior to the exam. However, some evidence collection may still be done if you have done these things.

Even if you think there is no evidence from the assault, an evidence collection kit may discover something and can be administered up to 120 hours (five days) after the assault. A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner will perform the procedure, and the exam will collect any evidence such as hair, skin cells, blood, or fluid that may remain on the body or clothing and assist in the identification or conviction of an offender.

A crisis counselor will meet you at the local hospital to support you throughout the process. The examination will not cost anything. Any expenses incurred are paid for by the State of Connecticut through the Office of Victim Service's Victim Compensation Program.

At the hospital there are tests that can detect the presence of a date rape drug in your blood and urine. Although these drugs leave your body quickly, tests can detect the drugs as much as 72 hours after they are ingested.

You can report the assault at any time to Public Safety or seek services through confidential sources.

Arrests are made when “probable cause” is established to show that the incident happened in the manner you have reported. This is separate from the University conduct process where it must be shown that it is “more likely than not” the incident occurred.

A full description of the University’s policies and processes for dealing with sexual assault and sexual misconduct can be found in the Student Handbook.

If reasonably available, complainants will be afforded the opportunity to request immediate on-campus housing relocation, transfer of classes, or other steps to prevent unnecessary or unwanted contact or proximity to an alleged assailant. The provision of such accommodations does not constitute a determination of responsibility, but rather is offered to assist the complainant.