George Mason Sexual Assault Policy

                           Conduct

The following policy applies to all members of the George Mason University community: student, faculty, administrators, staff, contract employees, and visitors.

The university is committed to providing an institutional environment where all persons may pursue their studies, careers, duties, and activities in an atmosphere free of the threat of unwelcome and unwanted sexual actions. It strongly condemns sexual offenses and will not tolerate sexual offenders.

Sexual assaults are serious violations of the university's student judicial code, faculty standards, and university employee policies. They are crimes under state law and are punishable by fines and/or imprisonment. In addition, the actions are subject to civil suit for damages.

The university will respond promptly, fairly, and decisively to all reports of sexual assault. Members of the university community accused of these actions will be subject to the university disciplinary procedures when the alleged incident has occurred on campus, or when the action has occurred off/campus and materially affects the learning environment, or operations of the university.

Sexual assault includes the attempt or act of rape (sexual intercourse without consent, both by stranger and acquaintance), forced sodomy (oral and anal sex), or forced penetration by a foreign object, including a finger. Non-penetration sexual assaults also included are the act of touching an unwilling person's intimate parts, such as genitalia, groin, breast, buttocks, or the clothing covering these parts, or forcing an unwilling person to touch another's intimate parts.

The above acts constitute sexual assault when they are committed against a person's will as evidenced by refusal of consent or through the use of force, threat, or intimidation: or against a person who, by virtue of mental incapacity or physical helplessness, is unable to give or withhold consent. This includes, but is not limited to, incapacity or helplessness caused by alcohol or other drugs. Intoxication of the assailant shall not diminish the assailant's responsibility for sexual assault. The degree of impairment of the victim's ability to give or withhold consent may be introduced as pertinant information at any university disciplinary hearing.

The University Sexual Assault Services Coordinator has been established to provide comprehensive assistance and support to individuals affected by sexual assault, as well as to oversee the development, delivery, coordination, and evaluation of the university's sexual assault program. This office is responsible for compliance with the Higher Education Ammendments of 1992 and the recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Substance Abuse and Sexual Assault. This office provides university wide coordination of education, prevention, treatment, and response policies, procedures, and programs in the area of sexual assault.