Northern does not provide direct counseling or mental health services for its students. In cases where Northern students are the victims of on-campus crime, Northern will act promptly to make appropriate referrals to local agencies. Incidents of Sex Offenses Reporting Procedures Northern encourages all victims of rape, or any other sex offense, to report such incidents to the appropriate police agency. If the incident occurred on college property, Security should be notified. While follow-up options and alternatives will be presented and discussed, final decisions are left to the victim of the crime, unless the injuries are too serious for the person to be able to make decisions.
Confidentiality is a critical concern in such instances.
Insofar as it does not interfere with the Northern ' s legal or ethical obligations, responsible staff will honor the choices made by the persons involved regarding additional reporting and follow-up. All written reports concerning an instance of rape or any other sexual offense must be filed with the Executive Vice President. When an alleged sexual assault is reported, the College has the responsibility of discussing with the person the range of resources and alternatives available. This includes informing the victim of the right to report the incident to law enforcement authorities and to actually help arrange a meeting with law enforcement authorities as well as to accompany the person during the meeting. Whether or not criminal proceedings are initiated, campus disciplinary proceedings shall be started when the evidence warrants such.