How SEMO and local organizations help in cases of sexual assault

On Aug. 18, a SEMO student was accused of committing sexual assault against another student in his dorm room.

Following the alleged incident, the accuser reported the incident to SEMO’s Department of Public Safety (DPS).

DPS Director Dr. Rich Flotron said the department’s first step in assisting victims of sexual assault is helping them file a report and providing a handout with several resources for additional support.

The pamphlet includes contact information for several on-campus offices, such as the Office of Student Conduct and the Campus Violence Protection Program, as well as community resources like the Safe House for Women, Birth Right, local hospitals and the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence (SEMO NASV).

SEMO NASV Development Director Alix Gassers said the organization is dedicated to providing comprehensive services to victims of sexual assault.

“We provide forensic interviews and exams, advocacy and counseling to those that have experienced sexual violence,” Gasser said. “We also see children that have experienced physical and sexual abuse, and then we also provide prevention education through our Green Bear Project programs.”

Gasser explained that during forensic interviews, a multidisciplinary team ensures the accuser’s voice is heard throughout the legal process.

“It's a trauma-informed, non-leading way of documenting the disclosure process. We work with what are called multidisciplinary teams. Multidisciplinary teams are made up of law enforcement, juvenile offices, prosecuting attorneys and mental health professionals,” Gasser said. “Basically, we work all together to help the client make sure the client is they're in charge of their story. And we help them guide them through the disclosure process, and then that disclosure process is recorded so that if they do press charges, we can submit that into a court of law.”

In addition to forensic interviews, SEMO NASV assists victims in filing restraining orders and navigating the legal system. It also offers specialized medical exams and counseling services for victims and their families.

SEMO NASV operates a 24-hour crisis hotline, available at 887-820-6278, and can be contacted through their website at semonasv.org.

Flotron added that in cases where a student accuses another student of sexual assault, a separate investigation may be conducted by the dean of students or under Title IX.

SEMO’s Title IX Coordinator Trae Mitten said faculty and students have the right to file a complaint regarding sexual assault under Title IX without being required to press criminal charges.

“It could be a faculty member, it could be a staff member, it could be anybody really has the right to make a complaint against, either, an employee or a student, but they have the right to make a criminal complaint if they choose to. We don't force people to do so, but they could choose to do that,” Mitten said.

Mitten also explained that if an assault is reported to the university, SEMO can issue a no-contact order.

“Things that we can offer to that student is a no-contact order, which is a notice from the Office of Student Conduct to both parties or multiple people, depending on how many people are involved in an incident that they are to have no further contact with one another, be that through, talking, social media, email, phone calls, texts through a third party, anything like that, they're not allowed to have any contact with one another, or they can face disciplinary action for violating that,” Mitten said. “We can do things like rearrange class schedules if the two parties happen to have a class in common. We can move residence halls if both parties live on campus.”