Advisers

The complainant and respondent are entitled to an adviser of their choice to accompany, support, and advise them throughout the reporting, intake, investigation, adjudication, and resolution process, including all meetings and interviews. An adviser may be a friend, family member, mentor, attorney, union representative, or any other person that a party chooses so long as the adviser is available, except for a member of the campus community who has other adjudicatory responsibilities under this policy or otherwise has a conflict of interest. For matters resolved through the Formal Investigation and Hearing Process, at the request of the party, the College will appoint an adviser who is an attorney at no cost to the party. Once the College assigns an adviser, the party may not request a different adviser be appointed by the College, but the party may independently select another adviser or retain counsel at the party’s own expense. If that occurs, the adviser appointed by the College will withdraw from that role. If a party does not have an adviser who will be present for a hearing, the College will appoint an adviser for that party for the purposes of cross-examination at the hearing. Advisers must sign an agreement provided by the Title IX Office prior to participating in any resolution process.

During interviews and meetings, the adviser may talk quietly with and ask clarifying questions of their advisee, but are not permitted to answer questions or speak on behalf of their advisee. Advisers are not permitted to disrupt meetings, interviews, or the process, and are expected to refrain from interference with the Informal Resolution Process or Formal Investigation and Hearing Process. An adviser who disrupts or otherwise fails to respect the limits of the adviser role will be warned once. If the adviser continues to disrupt or otherwise fail to abide by the signed agreement, the adviser will be asked to leave the meeting or interview, and the party will be permitted to select another adviser or continue without an adviser present (except during a hearing when an adviser is required, as discussed below).

A party may consent in writing to authorize the College to share any documentation and evidence related to the allegation(s) with their advisers. Advisers are expected to maintain the privacy of records shared with them in accordance with the signed agreement provided by the Title IX Office. If a party wishes to change advisers during the course of this process, they are required to notify the Title IX Coordinator in writing with timely notice.

The College will not unreasonably delay the scheduling of meetings or interviews to accommodate an adviser’s schedule. The College will make reasonable accommodations to have an adviser attend a meeting or interview via telephone or video chat if the adviser is unable to attend in person meetings, interviews, or other parts of a resolution process.