Rider University offers a variety of events, workshops, and trainings throughout the academic year to help educate the university community on topics such as: sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, consent, and bystander intervention.
The standard of proof utilized to determine whether an AHND policy violation has occurred is “preponderance of evidence”. This means that a hearing panel must find that based on the testimony and documents considered it is more likely than not that a violation has occurred.
After reviewing the report, if the university determines that it can honor a request not to investigate, the university may take any measures it deems appropriate to assist you. These measures can include issuing no communication/no contact order, a residence hall reassignment, academic assistance, counseling, changes to work or academic schedules, escort to classes. However it is important to note that when there is no investigation the university may be limited in the actions it take against another student. For example, the university may not be able to change the residential assignment of another student.
Consistent with the AHND Policy, an investigation and, if appropriate, a hearing may proceed in the absence of the participation of a Complainant or Responding Party. Investigators will proceed in their efforts to collect information available to them through interviews, documents, and university records to establish a record, and if appropriate, a hearing panel will consider the record to determine if there is a preponderance of the evidence to find a violation of the AHND Policy occurred even in the absence of the Complainant or Responding Party participating. The investigation and/or hearing will look different than if the Complainant and/or responding participates but it does not guarantee a certain outcome.
The response is up to the individual and there is no prescribed format.. The Responding Party or Complainant may consider providing any additional information that is relevant to the act or acts outlined in the report in order to clarify, correct, or supplement information contained in the report.
An advisor can be a friend, family member, attorney, counselor, or anyone who agrees to be the advisor for the Complainant or Responding Party. It is recommended that a party not select someone who may be a witness to serve as an advisor as that may limit their ability to participate as in a hearing or investigation process.
No one participating is required to have an advisor. This option exists if a Complainant or Responding Party would like to have someone assist and support them through the investigative or hearing process. The only time an individual is required to have an advisor is during a Process A Hearing. In a Process A Hearing the advisor is the only individual who can conduct cross-examination on behalf of a party. If an individual does not have an advisor at the time of the hearing, the University will provide one.
Individuals are welcome to reach out to the Title IX Compliance Officer, the Title IX Coordinator, the Dean of Students, of the Director of Community Standards. While they can answer questions regarding topics such as the investigation process, they cannot serve as an advisor and may not be able to answer questions regarding how to best answer questions in an interview, or offer suggestions about what questions to ask witnesses in a hearing.
The university can assist you by providing you access to resources on and off-campus. This includes Counseling Services and Student Health Services. The University may also take steps to restrict an individual’s access to campus. If you wish to file a police report, the university can assist you in doing so. Also, if the individual who assaulted you goes to another university the Title IX Coordinator or Title IX Compliance Officer can assist you in contacting that school about filing a report.
The allegation of sexual violence may have severe consequences and therefore the University takes very seriously the validity of reported information. An individual who makes a report that is later found to have been intentionally false or made maliciously without regard for the truth may be subject to disciplinary action. An individual not being charged after an investigation or found not responsible at the end of a hearing process does not inherently mean that an individual falsified information. A report may be made in good faith and be unsubstantiated by an investigation or subsequent hearing.
A request may be made to the Title IX Coordinator in writing to permit an additional advisor.