Violence Against Women Act
VAWA IS FOR EVERYONE! The Colorado School of Mines is committed to preventing and intervening in all forms of sex/gender discrimination and sexual harassment, which includes dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. VAWA protects all students, faculty, staff, and administration regardless of orientation and/or identity.
If you, or someone you know, experience discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, there are many resources on the Mines campus, as well as in the local community. In case of an emergency, please dial 911.
If you experience sexual assault
Go to a safe location as soon as you are able. Seek immediate medical attention if you are injured or believe you may have been exposed to an STI/STD or potential pregnancy. Contact the police, dial 911, or alert campus officials.
All sexual assaults can be reported to:
Mines Police: 303-273-3333
Golden Police: 303-384-8045
Prevention
Risk Reduction for Dating or Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking
It is never your fault if someone takes sexual advantage of you. However, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of experiencing sexual misconduct. These strategies are provided with no intention to victim-blame and with recognition that only those who commit sexual misconduct are responsible for such conduct.
- If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe about a person or situation, trust your gut and remove yourself from the situation as soon as possible.
- Understand and respect personal boundaries, do not pressure a potential partner; “no means no,” “yes means yes.”
- Don’t take advantage of someone’s drunken, drugged, or otherwise incapacitated state.
- Understand that consent to one form of sexual activity does not constitute consent for any other sexual activity, and consent can be withdrawn at any time for any reason.
- Don’t go somewhere with someone you don’t know well.
Resources/FAQ
How Do I File A Report
Any of the following Departments can assist you with filing a report. Most offices are available within regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
- Office for Institutional Equity
303.272.3260 - Student Health Services*
303.273.3381 - Counseling Center*
303.273.3377 - SHAPE*
303.273.3781 - Student Outreach and Support* sos@mines.edu
After hours on-call available
All For a full list of on and off campus resources, please visit: www.mines.edu/oie/on-and-off-campus-resources
*Confidential Resource
How to Preserve Evidence
If you expereince and incident, preserve evidence if you intend to report the incident.
- Do not wash bedding, towels, clothing
- Do not erase voicemails, texts, or emails
- Avoid bathing, showering, brushing teeth
- Avoid eating, drinking, using the toilet
- Avoid cleaning the crime scene
- Evidence should be collected within approximately 120 hours
- Seek medical attention no matter the timeline
Your Rights Under VAWA
You have the right to report the incident, or not, to law enforcement, to the Colorado School of Mines, or to any confidential campus resource.
- You do not need to report an incident to police to receive protective measures from the University.
- Protective measures may include but are not limited to risk assessment, safety planning, on-campus housing or workplace accommodations, no contact orders, class changes.
- Disciplinary proceedings will be prompt, fair, and impartial. Every case is unique and will vary in length.
- The Complainant and Respondent have the same rights, including the right to be accompanied to any proceeding by an Advisor of their choice.
- The right to be treated with respect by Colorado School of Mines
When does Title IX Apply?
Title IX applies when the Colorado School of Mines has jurisdiction over the complaint. Please see Mines Policy Prohibiting Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination, and Retaliation on the OIE Policies and Procedures page or contact OIE directly with questions or to schedule time to meet with us. If Title IX does not apply, there may be other policies and procedures that apply, and OIE will refer parties appropriately.