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Sexual Offense Prevention Policy (SOPP) & Title IX

In 1990 a group of students, the Womyn of Antioch, began a campaign to promote a culture free of sexual violence at Antioch College. Through this effort, a document was created which became known as the Sexual Offense Prevention Policy (SOPP). The SOPP is Antioch College’s formal attempt at ending sexual violence and sexual harassment while fostering a campus culture of positive, consensual sexuality.

The Sexual Offense Prevention Policy (SOPP) is a campus wide policy of Antioch College. All sexual interactions at Antioch College must be consensual. Affirmative Consent means verbally asking and verbally giving or denying consent for all levels of sexual behavior. Non-consensual sexual behavior, verbal and physical sexual harassment are not tolerated at Antioch College. Antioch College strongly encourages students, faculty, staff and visitors to report any violations of local, state, and federal law or conduct deemed inappropriate under this policy, to the college’s Title IX Coordinator, or when appropriate, to law enforcement officials.

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program. Sexual Misconduct is prohibited under this law. Title IX is a civil right amendment that prohibits sex discrimination. Sex discrimination includes all forms of sexual harassment including verbal and sexual harassment, and sexual violence by employees, students or third parties. (It also relates to unequal pay based on gender, discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or parenting status, unequal admissions and financial aid practices, and discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.)

You can report a violation of the SOPP by filling out the form at this link. 

Mission

Antioch College is committed to fostering an environment free of discrimination in all its forms, including any form of sex-based discrimination and misconduct, including acts of sexual violence, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. All members of the Antioch College community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others. Antioch College recognizes its responsibility to increase awareness of such misconduct, prevent its recurrence and investigate reports of misconduct with integrity as well as support the campus community including students, faculty, staff and campus guests, which includes vendors, contractors and visitors who have experienced sexual harassment and discrimination. Antioch College also recognizes the responsibility to respond to all known allegations in a timely manner consistent with the deeply held values of the Antioch College community.

To that end, the Title IX Office at Antioch College is tasked with the prevention of all forms of sexual harassment and violence through providing education, training, and other resources to the community as well as the prompt and equitable adjudication of Title IX complaints.

Affirmative Consent

Affirmative Consent is defined as the act of willingly and verbally agreeing to engage in specific sexual conduct. The following are clarifying points:  Affirmative Consent must be obtained each and every time there is sexual activity.

AFFIRMATIVE CONSENT understanding of the sexual activity:

  • The person who initiates sexual conduct is responsible for verbally asking for the affirmative consent of individual(s) involved.
  • The person with whom sexual conduct is initiated must verbally express affirmative consent or lack of “consent.”
  • Each new level of sexual activity requires affirmative consent.
  • Use of agreed upon forms of communication such as gestures or safe words is acceptable but must be discussed and verbally agreed to by all parties before sexual activity occurs.
  • Affirmative Consent is required regardless of the parties’ relationship, prior sexual history, or current activity (e.g. grinding on the dance floor is not consent for further sexual activity).
  • In order for affirmative consent to be valid, all parties must have unimpaired judgment and a shared understanding of the nature of the act to which they are consenting, including the use of safer sex practices.
  • A person cannot give affirmative consent while sleeping.
  • Silence conveys a lack of affirmative consent.
  • At any and all times when affirmative consent is withdrawn or not explicitly agreed to, the sexual activity must stop immediately.
  • All parties must disclose personal risk factors and known STIs.

Training and Education

Education: Antioch College believes that education is critical to the prevention of sexual violence and the promotion of well-being and safety within the community. The College is therefore committed to offering education and training activities through Student Affairs at least twice a year, and during orientation of incoming students every Fall term. These educational offerings will vary based on the needs and desires of the Community, the resources available, and specific events that require response. In addition to orienting students, Student Affairs and Title IX Coordinator will also orient faculty, staff, visitors and guests of the college to affirmative consent and the SOPP. There are many additional ways to pursue prevention education and become involved in the process. Review the below training resources to learn more: 

  • Community Standards Board Training- The Community Standards Board (CSB) is a panel of rotating faculty, staff, and student volunteers who agree to serve on the panel and decide the outcome of serious alleged community violations, including alleged violations of the SOPP and Title IX. All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged and eligible to join the pool of CSB volunteers upon completion of a 1.5 hour training, typically offered at least once during the academic term. To learn more about joining the CSB, contact the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@antiochcollege.edu. Click here to review training materials with which members of the Community Standards Board are trained and a list of CSB members that are currently eligible to serve. 
  • Title IX Coordinator and Team Training- The Title IX Coordinator and Title IX Decision Makers at Antioch College are required to routinely pursue training in order to effectively address and adjudicate Title IX Sexual Harassment complaints. Most trainings are offered through Bricker Graydon LLP. Click here to review training materials with which the Title IX Coordinator and Title IX Decision Makers have been trained. 

Violations of Policy

The SOPP is violated whenever there is an incident of non-consensual sexual conduct or physical or verbal sexual harassment on the Antioch College campus, during an Antioch College sanctioned event, or between two Antioch College students, regardless of location. If an act of sexual violence or sexual harassment occurs off campus in the context of an educational program or activity of the school, it must be responded to in the same manner as an on campus incident of sexual violence or sexual harassment. Violations are defined as follows:

  • Sexually based gestures 
  • Sexually based touching
  • Sexually based penetration of a body opening by any means, including but not limited to vaginal penetration, anal penetration, and oral sex. Penetration, however slight, includes the insertion of objects or body parts.
  • Sexually based stalking
  • Violence as related to dating or a domestic partnership.
  • Sexually based forms of nonconsensual communication, whether verbal, written, via telephone, or through electronic or social media.
  • Failure to disclose STIs and other personal risk factors.
  • Failure to use safer sex practices unless otherwise agreed upon verbally.
  • Harassment of any kind based on sexuality, gender identity or gender expression.
  • Any act of retaliation in response to an allegation of a SOPP violation.
  • Non-consensual conduct that is not sexually based is a violation of the Student Conduct Code and Honor Code and should be referred to the Dean of Student Life.

Support

Support: Antioch College is committed to offering support to survivors of sexual violence, sexual harassment and domestic violence. This support is provided through Counseling Services and linkages to local resources through the Office of Student Life, Human Resources and by the Title IX Coordinators. Support includes immediate response and advocacy for survivors, individual counseling, linkages to health services and advocacy. Options will be reviewed including criminal, civil and SOPP complaint processes. Services are also available to those seeking support who have been involved in a sexual violence, sexual harassment or domestic violence situation but are not the survivor.

Complaints

Any community member or visitor may report a complaint to the college Title IX Coordinator, Dean of Students or identified Title IX Deputy Coordinator when an alleged violation has occurred. To ensure confidentiality, the individual who makes a formal complaint is referred to as the Primary Witness or complainant. The person against whom the complaint has been filed is referred to as the Respondent. The Title IX Coordinator or appointed Title IX investigator and or deputy are responsible for discussing available options with both the Primary Witness and the Respondent, including those of the Antioch Community as well as other options.

Violations of Policy: If a complaint involves a non–community member, the Title IX Coordinator shall also discuss options available to ensure the safety of the individual and the college community. If the Complainant, Respondent or the Title IX Coordinator is concerned about the safety of the parties involved, the Title IX Coordinator is responsible for addressing the safety of all community members.

Types of Complaints: There are four types of complaints that can be filed. Person(s) wishing to remain anonymous fill out the complaint form without signing the form and it is then submitted to the college Title IX Coordinator. Persons who are willing to sign the complaint can indicate that they want the remedies to be informal or formal. Third party complaints may be filed by anyone other than the Primary Witness or Respondent regarding an SOPP violation.

Remedies: Remedies are determined, in part, by the type of the complaint filed. Persons may file a complaint and state they do not want to pursue any remedy. Remedies are developed, whenever possible, with the intent to increase educational awareness for all parties involved. Anonymous complaints are investigated by the Title Coordinator in conjunction with Title IX investigators to determine if any action can be taken or if there are any patterns of sexual violence of concern. Actions may include offering additional training for a specific group and/or issuing a campus wide alert.

Signed Complaints: All signed complaints are investigated by the Title IX Coordinator in conjunction with an appointed Title IX Investigator and or deputy. Informal complaint remedies are not permissible under Title IX Regulations. Any reports of violations of the SOPP or Title IX criteria must go through a formal investigation and Community Standards Board Hearing if the evidence supports that a respondent is Responsible of committing a SOPP/Title IX violation.

Formal complaints filed against a Community Member involves an investigation to determine if there is sufficient evidence to establish a violation of the college’s SOPP policy. If a sufficient evidence is established the case is then released to the Community Standards Board for a formal hearing. The remedies may include support and educational activities for either or both parties, and disciplinary action for the respondent who is found to have violated the Policy.

Third Party complaints are reviewed by the Title IX Coordinator to determine if further action can be taken. The Primary Witness in a third party complaint may choose whether or not to participate in the complaint. Support and services are offered regardless of their decision. Multiple third party complaints about the same incident and/or Respondent are given stronger consideration and may warrant a stronger response, depending on the nature of the allegation.

Complaint Procedures: The Title IX Coordinator and Office of Human Resources are responsible for the complaint process. All SOPP/Title IX Complaints may be reported to the Title IX Compliance Office:

Bailey Johnson
Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives and Title IX Coordinator
SOPP and Title IX Student Affairs
937-319-0246

SOPP/TitleIX Email:  TitleIX@antiochcollege.edu

You can report a violation of the SOPP by filling the form at this link.

Contact

Bailey Johnson
Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives
and Title IX Coordinator

South Hall 205
937-319-0246  TitleIX@antiochcollege.edu

 

Additional Help

If you are in danger, please call 911.

  • If you need confidential support and resources please contact our Counseling Center.
  • If you would like to report a violation of the SOPP, please click here to fill out a report.

Resources