Home
Rights and Options for Survivors of Sexual Harassment

Rights and Options for Survivors of Sexual Harassment

Survivors of sexual harassment have the right to:

Seek confidential advocacy and support from an external confidential resource.
Notify appropriate law enforcement authorities.
Receive assistance from school officials in reporting a crime to law enforcement authorities, if requested.
Decline to notify such authorities and/or decline to report to The Chicago School.
Request supportive measures, as outlined below.
Request assistance from school officials in obtaining and enforcing an institutional no contact directive and, if such measures are reasonably available, an order of protection or no contact order in state court.
A clear description of the school’s resolution procedures, including the range of possible sanctions.
Information regarding available resources for counseling, health care, mental health, or victim advocacy. Upon request, information regarding legal assistance, visa and immigration assistance, student financial aid, and other available services may be provided, where relevant.

Chicago School Community Members may make a report to the Title IX Coordinator, local law enforcement, or a Chicago School Responsible Employee. The Chicago School encourages those impacted by sexual harassment to talk to someone identified in one or more of these groups.

While Chicago School community members are encouraged to use their own judgment in terms of whom they choose to discuss reports of sexual harassment with, community members must understand that The Chicago School can only respond to incidents that it is aware of. A Complainant who at first requests confidentiality may later decide to file a complaint with The Chicago School or report the incident to local law enforcement, and thus have the incident fully investigated.

It is important to preserve evidence as it may be necessary in providing proof of criminal activity or in obtaining a protection order. Evidence is best collected as soon as possible or at least within 96 hours of the assault. Assistance with evidence preservation can be provided by medical and/or law enforcement personnel.

How to Make a Report to The Chicago School

Chicago School Community Members should report incidents of sexual harassment to The Chicago School’s Title IX Coordinator.

The Title IX Coordinator is:
Jennifer Stripe Portillo
Title IX Coordinator
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (213) 615-7264

Chicago School Community Members may also report incidents by submitting a Title IX Incident Reporting Form.

A Complainant is not required to report to law enforcement to receive assistance from or pursue any options within The Chicago School. A Complainant has the option to notify law enforcement authorities, to receive assistance from The Chicago School in notifying such authorities, or to decline to notify law enforcement authorities. Also, a Complainant may file both a criminal complaint and a Title IX report.

Chicago School Community Members who have experienced sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking or other sexual violence or are aware of such incidents experienced by other Chicago School Community Members should make an immediate report to the local police department and should seek medical attention. For information about how to make a report to local law enforcement or campus security or law enforcement for a specific Chicago School location, visit the Title IX website. Information on the nearest medical facility for each campus is located on the Title IX website.

Note that seeking medical attention is necessary to mitigate the risk of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy and to determine the existence of any physical injuries as well as the extent of any such injuries or required treatment. Additionally, forensic evidence can be collected if criminal action is or may be desired in the future. Note that it is important to preserve evidence as it may be necessary to provide proof of criminal activity or in obtaining a protective order. Evidence is best collected as soon as possible or within 96 hours of an assault. Assistance with evidence preservation can be provided by medical and/or law enforcement personnel. Note that federal law requires that a medical forensic examination be provided free of charge to a person who has been the survivor of sexual violence.

Reporting sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking to the police does not commit the Complainant to further legal action. However, the earlier an incident is reported, the easier it will be for law enforcement to investigate if the Complainant decides to proceed with criminal charges.

Options for Confidential Reporting

Chicago School Community Members may speak with an external confidential resource.

The YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is a community-based sexual assault crisis center that offers free, confidential services that are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. A counselor is available by calling 888.293.2080. A Chicago School Community Member should identify themselves as a member of the school community and ask for a confidential counselor.
Phone: 888.293.2080
Website: https://ywcachicago.org/advancing-healing-safety-and-belonging#rape-crisis-hotline

Students: Student Solutions: Student Solutions is a free, confidential, around-the-clock counseling service available to all Chicago School students.
Phone: 855.460.6668
Website: www.guidanceresources.com
Web identifier: TCSPP

Employees: Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Chicago School employees may receive counseling services through the EAP, which is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Phone: 800.272.7255
Website: www.guidanceresources.com
Web identifier: COM589

Reporting to Law Enforcement

Sexual harassment may constitute a violation of both the law and school policy. The Chicago School encourages students and employees to report alleged crimes promptly to local law enforcement agencies. All persons have the right to make a report to law enforcement, as well as the right to decline to make a report to law enforcement. The decision not to report to law enforcement shall not be considered as evidence that there was not a violation of The Chicago School policy. Local resources for community members located near a Chicago School campus can be found on the Title IX website.

Upon notice of possible sexual harassment within the scope of this policy, The Chicago School will provide the Complainant with information about local, state, and national resources and other supports relevant to sexual harassment. The Chicago School will also provide the Complainant with information about the importance of preserving evidence and the availability of a free medical forensic examination service and will assist the Complainant in notifying law enforcement, including local police, if the Complainant elects to do so. If requested, other participants in the process (such as a witness) may also be offered appropriate services and information. Please review the left navigation menu for specific information about local resources and supports that may be available to assist Chicago School Community Members.

The Chicago School will offer and implement appropriate and reasonable supportive measures to the parties upon notice of alleged harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation.

Supportive measures are non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services offered as appropriate, as reasonably available, and without fee or charge to the parties to restore or preserve access to The Chicago School’s Education Program or Activity, including measures
designed to protect the safety of all parties or The Chicago School’s educational environment, and/or deter harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation.

The Title IX Coordinator will make supportive measures available to the parties upon receiving notice/complaint. At the time that supportive measures are offered, The Chicago School will inform the Complainant, in writing, that they may file a Formal Complaint with The Chicago School either at that time or in the future, if they have not done so already. The Title IX Coordinator works with the Complainant to ensure that their wishes are considered with respect to the supportive measures that are planned and implemented.

The Chicago School will maintain the privacy of the supportive measures, provided that privacy does not impair The Chicago School’s ability to provide the supportive measures. The Chicago School will act to ensure as minimal an academic impact on the parties as possible. The Chicago School will implement measures in a way that does not unreasonably burden any party.

These actions may include, but are not limited to:

Referral to counseling, medical, and/or other healthcare services
Referral to the Employee Assistance Program
Referral to community-based service providers
Visa and immigration assistance
Student financial aid counseling
Education to the community or community subgroup(s)
Altering work arrangements for employees or student-employees
Safety planning
Implementing contact limitations (no contact orders) between the parties
Academic support, extensions of deadlines, or other course/program-related adjustments
Class schedule modifications, withdrawals, or leaves of absence
Any other actions deemed appropriate by the Title IX Coordinator

No contact orders shall be tailored to the specific circumstances of the case, including the non-complaining party’s safety or well-being, and will be issued with a written explanation of the reasons for the order. Violations of no contact orders will be referred to appropriate student or employee conduct processes for enforcement.

The Chicago School will use the least restrictive means possible when determining appropriate supportive measures to ensure the continued safety and health of the parties and/or The Chicago School community and to ensure as minimal an academic impact on the parties, where applicable. The Chicago School will implement interventions that do not unreasonably burden the other party and will regularly re- evaluate the actions to determine the necessity of their continued implementation. Supportive measures are never conditioned on entering into any form of a resolution agreement.

The Chicago School’s complaint resolution options are explained in detail in Section VIII of the Title IX Policy.

Sexual harassment which does not fall under Title IX will be addressed under the Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Anti-Retaliation Policy (Student DHR Policy).

Contact Information

Jennifer Stripe Portillo
Title IX Coordinator
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (213) 615-7264

Daniel Esquivel
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (213) 283-4267

Lindy Velasco
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (213) 615-7234