Student Congress addresses sexual assault

Dear Campus Community,

In light of recent reported sexual assaults on campus, Student Congress would like to make a statement concerning this important topic in our campus community. The recent Clery Act Timely Notices campus has received are understandably unnerving for our community. We are thankful for the confidential resources available to support our student body.

Nonetheless, students should proactively take steps to increase their safety and promote a respectful campus community, as well as strive to be active bystanders and protect one another.

Most campus employees are mandated reporters, meaning that they must report any sexual assaults that they become aware of to the campus Title IX Coordinator. We want to remind our community that there are several on- and off-campus confidential resources available who are not mandated to report disclosed sexual assaults:

1) Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
2) Health Center
3) Sara Bazydlo, Victim Advocate.
4 ) Campus Ministries Chaplains

There are various other off-campus resources to be aware of in the Holland area and the Hope community. Off-campus (non-employees) include:

1) Center for Women in Transition
2) 24-Hour Crisis Line: 616-392-1970 The information line is (616-392-2829)
3) Holland Hospital Emergency Department
4) Licensed professional counselors

All of the above-listed individuals will maintain confidentiality except in extreme cases of immediacy of threat or danger or abuse of a minor.

Students interested in reporting an incident on campus can submit the online reporting form at hope.edu/reportdiscrimination, or contact the Title IX Coordinator Sara Dorer at dorer@hope.edu or 616-395-6816. To encourage reporting, Hope College pursues a policy of offering reporting parties and witnesses amnesty from minor policy violations related to the incident. While policy violations cannot be overlooked, the college will provide educational options rather than punishment to those who offer their assistance to others in need.

Student Congress, as the voice of the student body, is saddened by the frequency of reported recent events and is hopeful that this does not become a pattern. We believe it is our principle responsibility to advocate for students on campus, and we encourage you to review the STEP Facebook page, the It’s On Us Campaign and the Title IX website. Please feel free to share any feedback on ways we could impact the college to make it a safer place.

Yours Truly,
Hope College Student Congress
congress@hope.edu

*The mission of Student Congress is to serve as a mediator between the administration and the student body. To learn more about this organization, please visit their website at hope.edu/student/life/congress or email the address listed above with any questions you may have regarding Student Congress.*