Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Title IX states “No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance”

Statement of Nondiscrimination and Title IX Compliance
The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) as a recipient of Federal financial assistance is subject to the provisions of Title IX.
RMBL provides equal opportunities in science and education and is committed to a policy of non-discrimination in relation to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status or disability in admissions, access to, treatment, or employment in educational programs or activities which it operates.

Behaviors that Violate Title IX

  • Sexual Harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, and offensive comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical appearance, and body size;
  • Sexual Misconduct includes rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual exploitation, coercion, and other forms of non-consensual sexual activity;
  • Title IX Violation: collective term used for incidents involving discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, and/or retaliation;
  • Dating and/or Domestic Violence: Emotional, verbal, and economic abuse with or without the presence of physical abuse;
  • Retaliation: Adverse employment, academic, or other actions against anyone reporting or participating in an investigation of Title IX allegations;
  • Deliberately mis-characterizing a person’s gender identity, including through the use of a name that the person has rejected;
  • Gratuitous or off-topic sexual images or behavior in spaces where they’re not appropriate at the station;
  • Stalking is repeatedly following, harassing, threatening, or intimidating including by telephone, mail, electronic communication, or social media;
  • Patterns of inappropriate social contact, such as requesting/assuming inappropriate levels of intimacy with others;
  • RMBL follows the “Ask Once” behavioral guideline: It is generally appropriate to ask someone out once, but no more than once. If you ask someone out once, and they do not say yes, you cannot ask them out again.

Reporting Procedures

No matter your home institution or affiliation, you can disclose an incident that you experienced, observed, or were told about.

  1. The best option is to directly report to the Title IX Coordinator;
  2. Report to any RMBL staff person if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable with the 1st option;
  3. Directly contact the police (911);
  4. Note: All RMBL staff are required to disclose anything they experience, see, or hear to RMBL’s Title IX coordinator.

The next step in this process is that the Title IX Coordinator will conduct outreach to the individual who was harmed, which includes providing resources for support. They will then ask this individual if they want the office to move forward with an investigation.

The person affected is in control of the process.  If they do not want an investigation to move forward, it will not.

The only way that an investigation will move forward without the support of the individual affected is if:

  1. The incident was part of a larger pattern at RMBL;
  2. There is a history of violence, sexual violence, arrest, or the incident was committed by multiple perpetrators;
  3. The incident was perpetrated with a weapon, included physical violence (such as hitting, restraint, pushing, or kicking), or the threat of violence;
  4. The affected individual is a minor.

Investigation Options

  1. None
  2. Informal Investigation: The Title IX Coordinator works with the Affected person and possibly with the Accused person to find an internal solution. The Title IX Coordinator may include RMBL’s management team, depending on the situation. RMBL management has the ability and responsibility to take immediate action to ensure the safety of RMBL’s scientists and students. This may include changes in housing or lab assignments, mediation, or other actions up to removal from camp of any staff member, contractor, member of the scientific community, or other resident;
  3. Full Investigation: The Title IX Coordinator will bring in impartial and trained Title IX investigators to research the case. This is not a court case, but a process that investigates, whether RMBL’s policies have been violated. The case will then be presented in front of a panel where the Affected person and the Accused person can state their case. If the Affected or the Accused person are affiliated with a home university, RMBL will involve the Title IX office of this institution;
  4. Involvement of Law Enforcement: Involving law enforcement may be an additional option. In the case of sexual misconduct RMBL will automatically notify law enforcement.

For inquiries regarding the RMBL’s compliance with Title IX, contact
Brett Biebuyck
Title IX Coordinator
Director of Administration
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
PO Box 519
Crested Butte, CO 81224
970-349-7231
brett@rmbl.org

Title IX Resources
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

National Science Foundation on Sexual Harassment

National Sexual Assault Hotline– Provides confidential, one-on-one, crisis support 24/7, Phone: 1.800.656-4673

Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance COVA – is committed to fairness and healing for crime victims, their families and communities through leadership, education, an advocacy.

Gunnison Center for Mental Health – provides help, hope, and healing in the case that you are dealing with a life problem, a mental illness, or a substance use disorder.

Project Hope – is supporting, educating and providing confidential advocacy to individuals affected by relationship violence and/or sexual assault.

Seek Then Speak provides victims and survivors of sexual assault answers to their questions, and informs them of their options for reporting when they are ready. This service is available to anyone in the Gunnison Valley. You may visit the website, call 1-888-865-9863 or download the mobile app.

You may call Law Enforcement Victim Services in Gunnison at 970-641-8299. Ask for Victim Advocate Kathleen Felix.