By Samantha Moore
*To protect the identity of the student, she will be referred to in the following article as Lindsey Clarke.
As Lindsey Clarke, a Bellarmine student, pulled herself off the floor from a dorm room at NKU (Northern Kentucky University), she reached for her phone to call a friend for help. After three years of being abused by her significant other, she’d had enough.
Soon after this incident had occurred, Clarke began her journey through the Title IX process.
According to aauw.org, Title IX protects students from sexual harassment and violence that occur in the course of a school’s education programs and activities.
In October, Clarke filed an investigation with NKU’s Title IX office because the incident had taken place on NKU’s campus. In addition to working with NKU’s office, she was also provided a Title IX advocate from Bellarmine’s Title IX office, and the advocate was able to guide and support her through the criminal trial. The trial is still moving because court dates have been postponed due to the corona virus.
The alleged perpetrator was investigated by Angela Zippin, an NKU investigator, for relationship violence and nonconsensual sex.
However, he was found guilty by NKU only of relationship violence because Clarke had proof only of physical assault. He has been suspended from NKU’s campus until August and is indefinitely prohibited from university housing and university housing grounds. If he fails to comply, he will be criminally charged with trespassing.
The Title IX case through NKU has been resolved with the sanction release, although the criminal trial is ongoing.
“Going through the Title IX process protects other students,” Clarke said. “Without this process, he would still be out there and who knows what could happen.”
Bellarmine University has received a $300,000 grant from the Department of Justice to establish the foundation for the sexual assault prevention work at Bellarmine for years to come.
“This grant will elevate what we are already doing,” Bellarmine Dean of Students Sean McGreevey said. “We will be able to be more intentional in our prevention efforts and purposeful with our additional resources.”
Year one of this three-year grant will focus on strategic planning, which will help to develop sustainable programming for all students.
“It is important for students to know more about the Title IX process,” Clarke said. “A lot of people are unaware of their rights, and you should know them before an incident occurs.”
This grant will also help to educate Bellarmine students about the rights they have under Title IX and about how to report sexual misconduct that occurs on and off campus.
“We really only hear about Title IX in regards to athletics and sports,” Clarke said. “I just don’t know why no one knows that we have a Title IX office here because it is a really big part of campus life.”
The Title IX office, located in the Student Affairs wing of Centro/ Treece Hall, can provide students with the necessary resources as well as support during this process.
“The Title IX office reached out to my professors for me and this completely changed my semester,” Clarke said. “After something like this occurs in your life, your concentration decreases and you just don’t care anymore. All you think about is what happened, so your academics will be impacted by this trauma.”
The grant has allowed the university to have access to additional resources, including hiring a sexual prevention coordinator.
The university recently welcomed Emily Kessinger to campus to assist Bellarmine in sexual assault prevention and education. Kessigner’s role will be to help develop student-centered programming and to guide the sexual assault prevention efforts on campus.
“I really want to be involved in the Bellarmine community and be a resource for our students,” Kessinger said. “Sexual assault prevention is my passion, and I want to provide everyone with the tools and skills they need to feel confident in playing an active role in prevention.”
Bellarmine officials are enthusiastic about having Kessinger join the campus community.
“She is incredibly talented and has been doing this work with college students around prevention, so we are excited to have her here,” McGreevey said.
The Title IX process has made Clarke aware of just how important it can be to have the necessary resources available when going through an experience like this.
“In an abusive relationship, there is this cycle and I was stuck in it,” Clarke said. “But after having Title IX help me, and going through the court system, I am way happier than I ever was.”
Having the support from the university throughout the Title IX process can really make a difference in the life of the student. “Having Bellarmine there was really important and to feel supported by your school really gives you empowerment.” Clarke said.
After speaking up about her experience, Clarke said she feels stronger than ever before. She has been using Bellarmine’s counseling center to continue to work through the traumas that this relationship caused.
“Something I want people to know is that it gets better and this process helps you cope with it,” Clarke said.
Kessinger said she is hopeful that through this grant Bellarmine will enhance the campus community and make it safer for everyone.
“I am so
excited to be here and to join this community. I can’t wait to get started and
get involved,” Kessinger said. “If students are interested or want to be a part
of this work in any way, I would love to hear from them. What we are wanting to
do here cannot be successful without students being at the table.”
Bellarmine University has measures in place if a student has experienced sexual misconduct.
The university’s first concern is that the student receives support. These resources include the counseling center, health services, the Center for Women and Families and the LMPD.
If a student wanted to file a formal report, he or she is encouraged to seek out the Deputy Title IX Coordinator Natasha Begin.
There are multiple ways for a student to report. This can be done though emailing, calling or dropping by the Title IX office on campus. Students can also fill out the Student Concern Report Form that can be found online or report through a faculty, staff or public safety member.
After the student speaks with the deputy coordinator, the information will be reviewed and the student will be offered an advise or advocate. Bellarmine has a group of faculty and staff who have been trained and volunteer in these roles.
The deputy coordinator consults with the Title IX coordinator and assigns two investigators to the case.
The deputy coordinator notifies the alleged abuser of the investigation, potential violation, and his or her rights and responsibilities. He or she will also be offered resources and an advocate.
The investigators meet with both parties separately and with any witnesses. They gather as much information as possible and then draft an investigative report.
The investigative report is then reviewed by the Title IX coordinator and deputy coordinator. They make a determination of whether there is enough information to determine what may have happened.
If there is a potential violation, the report is shared with both the person filing the complaint and the accused. If both parties agree to the findings, an information resolution process begins. If they do not agree, the case typically moves to a conduct hearing process.
Both parties have a right to appeal the hearing outcomes.
Additional information on Bellarmine’s Sexual Discrimination and Misconduct Policy can be found using this link: https://www.bellarmine.edu/docs/default-source/student-affairs-docs/sexual-discrimination-misconduct-policy.pdf?sfvrsn=3a166e80_4
“The whole process ensures you feel as comfortable as possible,” Clarke said. “And while it will always still be difficult to do, the process does its best to make you feel heard and to tell your story.”