Sexual Misconduct Resources

Sexual Misconduct

Sexual misconduct is corrosive to the community.  Any sexual misconduct which endangers the health or wellbeing of another student may result in dismissal. 

Sexual misconduct includes:

• Sexual assault: Non-consensual sexual intercourse or sexual contact.
• Sexual exploitation: Taking non-consensual sexual advantage of another, including but not limited to secret videotaping, sharing private nude pictures with third parties, or knowingly exposing another to an STD or to pregnancy or paternity.
• Relationship violence: Violence against a student by a person who is or has been in an intimate or romantic relationship with that student.
• Relationship misconduct: Threatening or coercive behavior that does not involve physical contact or violence, but that occurs in the context of a dating relationship. Examples include but are not limited to threats of violence, violation of another’s privacy or threats to do so, or physical restraint.
• Stalking: A course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or suffer substantial emotional distress.
• Sexual Harassment: Unwanted, severe, pervasive and objectively offensive interactions that are either physical or verbal in nature with some reference to sexuality, including but not limited to the use of offensive sexual language, and/or jokes of a sexual nature.

Consent

If Putney students choose to engage in sexual activity with each other, they must both understand and abide by the rules of consent. 

• The age of consent in Vermont is 16, unless both people are between the ages of 15 and 18.  A person under the age of 15 can never consent to sex.  (13VSA 3252)
• Consent cannot be inferred by the absence of “no.” Clear affirmative consent by words or by actions is necessary.
• Consent to some sexual acts does not imply consent to others, nor does past consent to a given act imply present or future consent. Consent must be ongoing and can be revoked at any time.
• Consent obtained by threat, coercion, or force does not constitute consent.
• Consent cannot be obtained from someone who is asleep or otherwise mentally or physically incapacitated, whether due to alcohol, drugs, or some other condition.

Faculty and Staff

Because of the professional responsibility of Putney faculty and staff to students, any intimate or sexual relationship between a Putney employee and Putney student will be grounds for immediate termination of employment by the adult involved and a report to legal authorities, regardless of the age of the student.

Privacy and Mandatory Reporting

Complaints of sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment or hazing to Putney will be kept private to the greatest extent possible. However, Putney does have legal and ethical obligations to share certain information with a limited number of people. As Putney is entrusted by families with their students’ care and safety, the School needs to let parents/guardians know if their child has shared a complaint of conduct that may have significantly compromised their safety. 

All Putney School employees, including counseling and health staff, are mandated reporters under Vermont Law, and therefore required to report to the appropriate state agency any sexual activity between a person over 18 years old and a person under 16 years old (if both are students), and any allegation of sexual misconduct. As noted above, no sexual contact between any adult employee of the school (anyone over age 18) and any student—regardless of age—is permitted and any such sexual contact will be reported to law enforcement. 

Making a Complaint of Sexual Misconduct, Harassment, Bullying, or Hazing

Sanctuary and Sexual Misconduct, Harassment, Bullying and Hazing

Student safety, and encouraging students to report to Putney when students safety is compromised, is of the utmost importance. Therefore, students who believe they have experienced sexual misconduct, harassment, bullying, or hazing and wish to report it will not face disciplinary action for their own conduct concerns connected to the incident(s), such as use of prohibited substances or violating other residential expectations. There is no need to specifically request sanctuary from the Dean of Students in these cases. See "Sanctuary" in the Student Handbook for more information.

Making a Complaint to Putney

Any individual who believes that they have been harassed, bullied, or hazed, or who
witnesses or believes they know of a student who has been, and any student who believes they have experienced any form of sexual misconduct, should promptly report this to the Dean of
Students, the Director of Health Services, or the Director of Counseling, or another trusted school employee. Please keep in mind the mandatory reporting obligations noted above. Complaints may also be submitted directly to the Interpersonal Behavior Committee (IBC) at ibc@putneychool.org. 

Any student may seek information about the process of reporting a complaint by talking with the Dean of Students, a member of the counseling or health office staff, a member of the IBC, or another Putney School adult. Gathering information about reporting processes and support resources without disclosing information does not generally require a mandated report on the part of the staff member. 

Making a Complaint of Sexual Misconduct to Law Enforcement
Any student who wishes to report a complaint of sexual assault, relationship violence or stalking directly to law enforcement may do so. Putney staff, such as an IBC member, the Dean of Students, or a counselor or nurse, can provide support and assistance with this process. 

Interpersonal Behavior Committee (IBC)

The Interpersonal Behavior Committee (IBC) consists of 3-4 faculty and staff members appointed by the Head of School. The IBC investigates complaints of harassment (including sexual harassment, and microaggressions that may also constitute harassment), bullying, hazing, and sexual misconduct, and recommends appropriate actions to the Head of School. The IBC may also meet with students having an interpersonal conflict for which adult support and mediation may be helpful. Students may request to meet with the IBC directly (and may ask any Putney adult for guidance and support with this request), or an IBC meeting may be arranged by the Dean of Students when conflict resolution support for students is needed. Students may contact the IBC directly to submit a complaint of harassment (including sexual harassment), bullying, hazing, or sexual misconduct, or to request assistance with an interpersonal conflict, at ibc@putneyschool.org. The membership of the IBC can be found in Contact Information. 

IBC Process

The goal of the IBC process is to better understand what has occurred, and to explore its impact on the involved individuals and on the Putney community, through a fair and impartial process. The IBC will then recommend a course of action to the Head of School that may be restorative, educational, and/or disciplinary, as appropriate. 

When a complaint has been received by the IBC, the committee will acknowledge its receipt to the reporting individual(s). They will also notify the targeted student(s), if the complaint was submitted by a third party, and the student(s) whose conduct is in question that the IBC will be gathering information about the matter. The IBC will generally meet individually with all involved parties as appropriate. This may include the individual(s) who submitted the complaint; the alleged target(s); and witnesses and other individuals who may have relevant information, including teachers and parents. In more complex cases, the Head of School may appoint an appropriate internal or external professional to gather information in place of the IBC. In undertaking the process of looking into the complaint, Putney will handle private information with sensitivity, and will not disclose information about the matter or identify the involved students to anyone unnecessarily. 

As noted above, in certain circumstances, the school may be obligated to report misconduct to external authorities, such as to law enforcement or the local child welfare agency. Putney cooperates with external agencies and may postpone its own investigation into misconduct as appropriate. Please see the Privacy and Mandatory Reporting policy, above, for more information. 

Cooperation and Honesty

Students are expected to cooperate in IBC processes and to be honest when doing so, even when there may be personal or social pressures to do otherwise. Failure to cooperate with an investigation may itself be cause for disciplinary action. If a student refuses to participate or cooperate at any stage of an IBC process for any reason, Putney reserves the right to take action, including proceeding without a statement from the student, or to require the student to withdraw from Putney. 

Interim Measures and Administrative Leave

Putney may take interim remedial measures while the school is looking into the complaint. Examples of interim measures include, but are not limited to, ordering no contact between individuals, changing schedules or classes, or other actions to create space between individuals.

In certain cases, a student may be required to go on an Administrative Leave while a matter is in the process of being investigated.  An Administrative Leave is considered a non-disciplinary leave, and does not reflect a conclusion by the school of any wrongdoing.  During an Administrative Leave, Putney will work with students to continue their educational experience to the extent possible, such as through tutoring, online learning and other methods. 

Putney reserves the right to retain or dismiss a student no matter the decision by the state to pursue a report, or a legal decision by the state resulting from a report. 

False Complaints

All students involved in an IBC process should understand that false or exaggerated accusations can be extremely damaging; therefore, Putney expects and requires the honest and full disclosure of facts by all involved individuals. Any person who knowingly makes a false accusation of bullying, hazing, harassment, sexual misconduct, or retaliation, or fails to fully disclose relevant information, may be subject to disciplinary action.

Retaliation​

Retaliation is any form of intimidation, reprisal, or harassment directed against a student who reports misconduct. Retaliation may include but is not limited to ostracizing, threatening, or spreading rumors or misinformation about the reporting or targeted student(s), or abusing the power of a student leadership position in order to unfairly burden the reporting or targeted student(s). Anyone who retaliates against a complaint of harassment, bullying, hazing, or other serious misconduct is also in violation of school policy. A student may violate this anti-retaliation provision regardless of whether the original complaint turns out to be true, or whether the retaliation was not intended to be harmful (“it was just a joke”). Individuals who themselves are not complainants, but who participate in an investigation, for example, as witnesses, will also be protected from retaliation under this policy.

Student Bystander Responsibilities

Putney expects that any student who has knowledge that any form of bullying, hazing, harassment, sexual misconduct, or retaliation will occur, is occurring or has occurred, if they feel comfortable doing so, will take reasonable steps to prevent that activity or stop it from going any further.  Students are encouraged and expected to report knowledge of any of these behaviors, including sexual misconduct, to a responsible adult at the school. Every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality.

In addition to, or as an alternative to filing a harassment complaint under this policy, a person may file a harassment complaint with the Vermont Human Rights Commission or the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education at the addresses noted below:

Vermont Human Rights Commission
14-16 Baldwin Street
Montpelier, VT 05633-6301
(800) 416-2010 or (802) 828-2480 (voice)
(877) 294-9200 (tty)
(802) 828-2481 (fax)
Email: human.rights@state.vt.us  

State of Vermont Attorney General's Office
Civil Rights Unit
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05602-1001
(888)745-9195 (Toll Free VT) or (802) 828-3657
(802) 828-3665 (tty)
(802) 828-2154 (fax)
Office for Civil Rights, Boston Office

U.S. Department of Education
8th Floor
5 Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109-3921
617-289-0111 (voice) 877-521-2172 (tdd)
617-289-0150 (fax)
Email: OCR.Boston@ed.gov  

The content below provides information, suggestions, and resources to help you be a supportive friend to someone who has experienced an unwanted sexual experience, relationship abuse, and/or stalking.

It can be upsetting to see a friend struggling or in pain.

Providing support to someone who has experienced an unwanted sexual encounter or an abusive relationship is no different. These experiences can take away people’s sense of power and leave them feeling helpless. Offering gentle, consistent, and nonjudgmental friendship and support can alleviate the difficult emotions your friend may feel.

Regardless of your own knowledge or experience with sexual or relationship abuse, you can play a key role in supporting your friend and restoring their sense of control. You can:

• Help her focus on her strengths.
• Provide a safe place for them to explore their emotions.
• Reinforce that he is not responsible for being assaulted, stalked, or mistreated.
• Reassure her that she has the right to any and all feelings, even if they’re conflicting and confusing.
• Share resources for additional support.

Listen and Believe

Active listening--fully concentrating on what is being said, with all of your senses, and with an open mind and heart--is an important skill when helping a friend.

DO

• Believe your friend’s experience, no matter how strange, upsetting, or unlikely the events may seem.
• Accept and honor her emotions without judgment.
• Be honest. You may not “understand,” but you can empathize and care.
• Reflect. The only way to ensure that you understand is to ask. Try something like: “It seems like you are feeling . . .” or “Do you mean . . .?”
• Allow them to define their experience on their own terms. Imposing labels or definitions takes away their right to make sense of their experience for themselves.
• Meet him wherever he is in her process of healing, understanding, willingness to talk, or asking for help. His needs will shift over time; remain flexible and present.
• Thank them for trusting you, and respect their privacy by keeping the information confidential. If your friend has shared their experience with others, ask permission before having conversations about your friend with others.

AVOID

• Suggesting how he should feel—for example, indicating that he should feel more outraged, or that he should calm down.
• Advice that begins with “don’t.”
• Trying to “fix” or “rescue” her. Instead, support her in charting her own path.
• “Investigating” or probing for more information than your friend is willing or able to share. Avoid “why?” questions, as they can imply blame.
• Taking matters into your own hands by communicating with or about, or organizing others against, the offender. You may be unintentionally worsening the situation for your friend. 

Help Restore Control

Interpersonal violations can profoundly undermine someone’s sense of control—over their safety, over their decisions, even over their own bodies. Rather than acting for them, which might unintentionally reinforce their sense of powerlessness, ask questions to help them identify their needs. Then ask what role you can play in helping them meet those needs, understanding that they likely will change over time.

Sometimes the simplest questions are the most important ones:

• “Do you want to talk about it?”
• “What do you think you need the most right now?”
• “What can I do to help?”
• “Is it okay for me to give you a hug?”
• “Would it be helpful if I . . .?”

Understanding Reactions

Some of your friend’s decisions, actions, and feelings may appear strange when considered in the context of what we might expect under “normal” circumstances. However, your friend’s experiences may have caused strong and confusing feelings, and in some cases, some trauma. Although some responses are more commonly seen, there is no reaction to sexual assault or relationship abuse that is “normal” or “abnormal.”

Common reactions

• Shock, confusion
• Memory loss or trouble accessing memories
• Depression
• Denial, minimization, attempt to “normalize” their experience
• Mistrust of self and others
• Shame, guilt, self-blame
• Anxiety
• Isolation
• Anger
• Physical distress: shaking, nausea, loss of appetite, etc.

Your friend may cycle through some of these feelings and experiences in no particular order, or may not experience any of them. Some feelings may recur after a period of “normalcy,” and this may feel discouraging. Encourage them to be patient and to understand that this may take some time, and that there is no “right” way to feel.

In some cases, it will be best to continue to be a nonjudgmental and supportive presence.

However, in other cases it is important to share your concerns with people who can offer more specialized support. For more information, see When and How to Seek Help below.

The Pace of Recovery

It may take your friend a while before they are ready to look closely at their experiences and begin to explore their needs. Your friend’s most immediate need may be to try to regain a sense of normalcy in their life, and this may require them to consciously or unconsciously postpone acknowledging their own distress. It can be frustrating if your friend opts not to seek immediate care from a counselor, report their experience right away, or file a complaint. Be patient with them, and understand that they may be using every bit of energy just to function at a basic level. Helping them regain their sense of control means letting them set the pace.

Considering Filing a Complaint

If your friend is struggling with whether or not to file a complaint with Putney or with the police, it may be helpful to reassure them that they do not need to make a decision immediately. You also can gently suggest that they preserve as much information as they can in case they decide to pursue a complaint in the future. This can include writing down their best recollection of what took place, including locations, estimated timing, witnesses, or names of people with whom they may have communicated immediately before and after the incident, and preserving any relevant texts, photos, social media, or other records. 

You can let them know that they can learn about the process of filing a complaint at Putney or with the police before they make a decision about what they would like to do, and without sharing any information about their experience.  

Partner Abuse and Unhealthy Relationships

Intimate partner abuse, also known as domestic, relationship, or dating abuse, is a pattern of behavior used by someone to gain or maintain power and control over their partner. Intimate partner abuse may include physical, sexual, verbal, and psychological actions or threatened actions.

 Signs that someone is experiencing abuse may include any of the following:

• She seems afraid or anxious to please her partner.
• They frequently check in with their partner and often receive harassing calls or texts from their partner.
• He talks about his partner’s temper, jealousy, or possessiveness.
• She is rarely out without her partner, and she misses commitments without explanation.
• They have frequent injuries.
• He exhibits personality changes (e.g., an outgoing person becomes withdrawn or reflects low self-esteem when he used to be confident).
• She is depressed or anxious.

What can I do?

• Because student safety is our priority, students will not get in trouble for conduct concerns when they are related to being the target of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, relationship abuse or stalking. Notifying a Putney adult about your concern for your friend’s safety will not result in discipline for you or your friend. 
• Reach out to resources for yourself. A counselor, dean, or any Putney adult with whom you are comfortable can partner with you to figure out the best way to support your friend and increase her safety. 
• Identify resources for your friend that can provide information, support, and guidance. (See Sexual Misconduct Resources)
• Tell your friend you are concerned for their safety and want to help. Using specific observations can be helpful: “They grabbed your arm really hard and that made me worried.”
• Follow his lead. It may be difficult for him to talk about the situation. Consistently offering support and concern lets your friend know that you are a safe person to talk to whenever he is ready.
•  Share your concerns with a member of the IBC (ibc@putneyschool.org).
• If you fear someone may be in immediate danger, find a Putney adult right away. 

Stalking Concerns

Stalking consists of a series of behaviors that can escalate and create an atmosphere of intimidation, discomfort, and fear for the stalker’s target and for others close to them. Stalking actions may seem innocent at first—an anonymous note, someone showing up at unexpected times in unexpected places, unwelcome communications through social media, small gifts, and other expressions of interest. If the target of that attention communicates that they are not interested but the actions continue, safety concerns arise.

Some stalking behaviors result from misreading cultural cues. Many forms of entertainment wrongly suggest that “persistence” in expressing romantic interest is appropriate, and people who accept this belief can be unintentionally insensitive to respecting boundaries. Regardless of intention, pursuing another person’s attention after they have expressed disinterest is not acceptable at Putney. 

Because early incidents may seem harmless on their own, it can be easy for stalking targets, and their friends, to fail to recognize them as part of a disturbing pattern and to minimize their importance. As a friend, you can play an important role in helping identify concerns and seek support.

Trust your instincts

If someone’s actions are disconcerting or feel “creepy” or unwelcome to you or your friend, share your concerns with each other and validate them.

Communicate clearly

Support your friend in sending a clear message to the individual that they do not want the unwanted attention to continue. Talk to an adult with whom you or your friend feel comfortable.

Help your friend recognize and record patterns

Make a list of all the direct and indirect contacts you and your friend believe a person has initiated, even those you feel may have been coincidental. Save emails, text messages, phone records, and other evidence.

Seek help as soon as possible

Stalking can escalate quickly, so it is important to reach out early to an adult, who can recognize when safety risks arise. Do not hesitate to “overreact” by involving an adult if you feel someone is in immediate danger.

Taking Care of Yourself

It’s really hard to watch someone you care about deal with sexual assault, relationship abuse, or stalking, and it is likely to take an emotional toll on you. These feelings are normal, but they can be difficult to handle while you also are trying to be a supportive friend.

Things you may feel:

• Shock and disbelief
• Rage and helplessness
• Fear for your friend’s safety or health
• Preoccupation with the event and its aftermath
• Loss of security and trust
• Confusion about your friend’s responses and needs
• Guilt or responsibility for your friend’s experience

It is just as important to care for yourself in times of stress as it is to care for others, and to seek support from someone you trust. It is also important to acknowledge your own limits. While you may care deeply for your friend and may be honored by their trust in you, you are not a trained counselor. We all want to extend ourselves beyond our normal limits when someone is in crisis, but when this begins to affect your own ability to function, or leads you into situations for which you are not trained, no one is well served. In these situations, it is best to be honest with yourself and your friend about your limits. 

Consider the following language:

• “You deserve to get the best possible care and support. I’m not trained to give that to you, but let’s work together to figure out who can.”
• “I’m not sure what the next best step is, but I know how to find someone who can help.”
• “I really want you to get the right information and care. Can we talk about some resources that might be helpful?”

See Local and National Resources above for more information.

 How to Seek Help

You can serve an important role by helping your friend to connect voluntarily with resources. Unfortunately, you also may find yourself in situations in which you are so concerned about your friend’s well-being that you need to seek help with or without your friend’s permission. If your friend is in danger, either from others or from themselves, you must reach out to an adult.

Examples of emergencies:

• Any situation in which immediate danger or threat is present
• A serious flashback or dissociative episode
• Suicidal thoughts, with a plan and/or the means
• Threats of harming others or property, with a plan and/or the means
• Stalking concerns, no matter how mild the stalking actions appear to be

In any unsafe situations, contact a member of the Counseling or Health Office during business hours, or any Putney adult during or outside of those hours. In cases where your friend is thinking or talking about suicide, it is imperative that you communicate your friend's statements to a Putney adult as soon as possible. Do not be afraid to overreact. If you are conflicted about whether or not the situation counts as an emergency, err on the side of caution and reach out.

Examples of other concerning situations:

• Your friend is using coping mechanisms that concern you but do not seem immediately life threatening.
• You are worried your friend may be in an abusive relationship, but you aren’t sure.
• Your friend is missing classes, isolating themselves, eating poorly, or acting in ways that concern you.
• Your friend is suffering from the trauma of sexual or relationship abuse and needs more support from you than you are able to provide.

In situations like these, there are resources available to provide information, help you navigate the complexities of caring for your friend, and assist you with determining if and when you need to take additional steps to support your friend’s safety. See Local and National Resources above for more information.

______

Everyone has a role to play in eliminating sexual and relationship abuse and stalking. Caring for friends—and for yourself—is a critical step on the path, and no one needs to do it alone.

Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Abuse, and Stalking

Local Resources

SafeSpace Vermont
866-869-7341 (Mon-Thurs 9am-6pm, Fri 9am-2pm) pridecentervt.org/services
SafeSpace, a service of the Pride Center of Vermont, provides information, support, referrals, and advocacy to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning survivors of violence and offers education and outreach programs in the wider community. Support services include a hotline during established hours, direct advocacy, one-on-one support, and support groups.

Planned Parenthood Brattleboro
(802) 257-0534
Provides a wide range of confidential sexual and reproductive health and educational services. 

PRIDE Center of VT
Pride Center of Vermont (PCVT) is the region’s most comprehensive community center dedicated to advancing community and the health and safety of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Vermonters.

National Resources

love is respect
love is respect is the national resource to disrupt and prevent unhealthy relationships and intimate partner violence by empowering young people through inclusive and equitable education, support, and resources.

One Love
One Love’s mission is to educate young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships, empowering them to identify and avoid abuse and learn how to love better.

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
800-656-HOPE
This comprehensive national resource for people of all genders and gender identities includes a telephone hotline and a secure instant messaging service. The online hotline is available to anyone directly impacted by sexual assault and connects users with a trained RAINN staff member.

RAINN: Recovering from Sexual Violence
RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Victim Connect Resource Center: Stalking
The Victim Connect Resource Center offers a comprehensive overview of stalking definitions, resources, and recommendations. 

MaleSurvivor
The MaleSurvivor website offers resources, programming, and in- person and online support connections for boys and men who have survived sexual victimization.

1in6
1in6 is a free and anonymous national helpline with 24/7 availability for males who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. The mission of 1in6 is to help men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences live healthier, happier lives. This includes serving family members, friends, partners, and service providers by providing information and support resources on the web and in the community.

Step UP!
Step UP! is a prosocial behavior and bystander intervention program that educates students to be proactive in helping others. It received a NASPA Gold award and is identified as a ‘Best Practice’ by the NCAA Sports Science Institute of national and international scholars. It is considered to be the most versatile and comprehensive bystander intervention program available.