Student Services

Sexual Violence

Mandatory Sexual Violence Prevention Course for New Students
The Minnesota Legislature has mandated that new Minnesota college students are required to complete the mandatory training on sexual violence at the beginning of their first semester of enrollment (this includes PSEO students). This training is called Sexual Violence Prevention Training. This important training is in your D2L/Brightspace Account and consists of three modules and a completion quiz. Students who do not complete the training within the first 10 days of the start of the semester will have a registration hold placed on their account.

Campus Eye: Sexual Violence Reporting
     - Web Form Reporting

Resources
    - Community Resources 
    - Confidential Campus Contacts 
    - Minnesota Sexual Assault Data Report 

Sexual Violence Policy Statement

Sexual violence is an intolerable intrusion into the most personal and private rights of an individual, and is prohibited at Minnesota State colleges and universities.

Minnesota State colleges and universities is committed to eliminating sexual violence in all forms and will take appropriate remedial action against any individual found responsible for acts in violation of this policy.

Acts of sexual violence may also constitute violations of criminal or civil law, or other Board Policies that may require separate proceedings. To further its commitment against sexual violence, Minnesota State colleges and universities provides reporting options, an investigative and disciplinary process, and prevention training or other related services as appropriate. 

Reporting

Please use this confidential Web Reporting Form to notify the College of sexual violence acts.

Reporting Incidents of Sexual Violence
Complainants of sexual violence may report incidents at any time, but are strongly encouraged to make reports promptly in order to best preserve evidence for a potential legal or disciplinary proceeding. Complainants are strongly encouraged to report incidents of sexual violence to law enforcement for the location where the incident occurred. Complainants are also encouraged to counseling and health care providers for appropriate action.

Definitions

Consent - Consent is informed, freely given and mutually understood. If coercion, intimidation, threats, and/or physical force are used, there is no consent. If the complainant is mentally or physically incapacitated or impaired so that the complainant cannot understand the fact, nature, or extent of the sexual situation, there is no consent; this includes conditions due to alcohol or drug consumption, or being asleep or unconscious. Silence does not necessarily constitute consent, and past consent of sexual activities does not imply ongoing future consent. Whether the respondent has taken advantage of a position of influence over the complainant may be a factor in determining consent.

Dating and relationship violence - Dating and relationship violence includes physical harm or abuse, and threats of physical harm or abuse, arising out of a personal intimate relationship. This violence also may be called domestic abuse or spousal/partner abuse and may be subject to criminal prosecution under Minnesota state law.

Employee - "Employee" means any individual employed by Minnesota State colleges and universities, its colleges and universities and system office, including student workers.

Non-forcible sex acts - Non-forcible acts include unlawful sexual acts where consent is not relevant, such as sexual contact with an individual under the statutory age of consent, as defined by Minnesota law, or between persons who are related to each other within degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.

Sexual assault - "Sexual assault" means an actual, attempted, or threatened sexual act with another person without that a person's consent. Sexual assault is often a criminal act that can be prosecuted under Minnesota law, as well as form the basis for discipline under Minnesota State Colleges and Universities student conduct codes and employee disciplinary standards. Sexual assault includes but is not limited to:

1. Involvement without consent in any sexual act in which there is force, expressed or implied, or use of duress or deception upon the victim. Forced sexual intercourse is included in this definition, as are the acts commonly referred to as "date rape" or "acquaintance rape." This definition also includes the coercing, forcing, or attempting to coerce or force sexual intercourse or a sexual act on another.

2. Involvement in any sexual act when the victim is unable to give consent.

3. Intentional and unwelcome touching, or coercing, forcing, or attempting to coerce or force another to touch a person's intimate parts (defined as primary genital area, groin, inner thigh, buttocks, or breast).

4. Offensive sexual behavior that is directed at another such as indecent exposure or voyeurism.

Sexual violence - Sexual violence includes a continuum of conduct that includes sexual assault, non-forcible sex acts, dating and relationship violence, stalking, as well as aiding acts of sexual violence.

Stalking - Stalking is conduct directed at a specific person that is unwanted, unwelcome, or unreciprocated and that would cause a reasonable person to fear for her or his safety or the safety of others or to suffer substantial emotional distress.

Student - The term "student" includes all persons who are enrolled in one or more courses, either credit or non-credit, through a college or university; withdraw, transfer or graduate, after an alleged violation of the student conduct code; are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the college or university; or have been notified of their acceptance for admission or have initiated the process of application for admission or financial aid; or are not college or university employees and are not enrolled in the institution but live in a college or university residence hall.

System property - "System property" means the facilities and land owned, leased, or under the primary control of Minnesota State colleges and universities, its Board of Trustees, system office, colleges and universities.

Related Documents

www.mnwest.edu/index.php/policies/1b3

Resources

Campus Community Resources and Legal Services

Title IX Coordinator
For Staff:
Katie Meyer, VP of Human Resources
katie.meyer@mnwest.edu
507-372-3408

For Students:
Abdullahi Farah Abdigaani, Dean of Equity, Inclusion, and Student Development
abdullahi.farahabdigaani@mnwest.edu
507-372-3423

Confidential Campus Contacts

 

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