Retaliation against an individual who brings a complaint, participates in an investigation or pursues a criminal charge is prohibited and will not be tolerated. Students, faculty members and staff members should understand that apparently consensual sexual relationships, particularly those between individuals of unequal status, may be or become a violation of this policy. Anyone who engages in a sexual relationship with a person over whom he or she has any degree of power or authority must understand that the validity of the consent involved can and may be questioned. The College particularly abhors the abuse potentially inherent in sexual relationships between faculty members and students, and between staff supervisors and their student employees. Definition of Sexual Assault Sexual assault is intentional sexual contact with another person without that person's consent.
Sexual contact can occur over clothing.
Consent exists when a person freely and knowingly agrees at the time, to participate in a particular sexual act with a particular person. There is no consent, for example, when force, threat or coercion is used. There is no consent when sexual contact is with a person who is unable to say no or otherwise resist because of the use of alcohol or drugs or because he or she is asleep or unconscious. The use of drugs or alcohol does not excuse conduct which constitutes sexual assault under this policy. Sexual assault can be committed by a man or a woman against a person of the same or opposite sex.