With the exception of those employees who are Confidential Resources identified in Section V.F below, all University employees (including administrators, faculty, staff, and student employees) have a duty to report sexual misconduct that they observe or otherwise learn about. Employees should make their report promptly to the Title IX Coordinator, the Deputy Title IX Coordinator, or the University Police Department. The University may take disciplinary action against an employee who fails to report sexual misconduct as required by this policy, up to and including termination.
Students and non-employee members of the University Community who wish to report sexual misconduct should file a complaint with the Title IX Coordinator, the Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and/or the University Policy Department. Students and non-employee members of the University Community should be aware that all employees at the University, other than the Confidential Resources identified in Section V.F below, have an obligation to report sexual misconduct that they observe or otherwise learn about.
In addition to the reporting options under this policy, any person may make a report of sexual misconduct to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, at the contact information listed in Section III.
In addition to making a report under this policy, the University encourages any person who believes he or she is the victim of a crime to make a report to law enforcement. The contact information for the University’s Police Department is:
Phone: 911 (emergency)
(417) 623-3131 (Report a crime)
(417) 626-2222 (Service calls) Email: UPD@mssu.edu or kennedy-k@mssu.edu
Location: Lower campus area between Ummel and Plaster Halls on Mission Hills Drive
If requested, the University will assist an alleged victim in notifying the appropriate law enforcement authorities. If a person believes he or she is in imminent danger, the person should dial 911. Unless there is a health or safety emergency, articulable threat to members of the University Community, or a state law requiring reporting (such as in the case of child abuse) the University will not contact outside law enforcement without the alleged victim’s permission.
Avoid bathing, using the toilet, rinsing one’s mouth or changing clothes. If it is necessary, put all clothing that was worn at the time of the incident in a paper bag, not a plastic one.
All medical injuries are not immediately apparent. This is also necessary to collect evidence in case the individual decides to press charges. Local hospitals (identified in Section V.F of this policy) have evidence collection kits necessary for criminal prosecution should the victim wish to pursue charges.
It is also important to take steps to preserve evidence in cases of stalking, to the extent such evidence exists. In cases of stalking, evidence is more likely to be in the form of letters, emails, text messages, etc., rather than evidence of physical contact and violence.
