Office for Institutional Equity

Support Resources

Support resources related to the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and the Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy are listed in the expandable sections below.

Resources Related to the Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy

Counseling and Psychological Services

140 West College St., Dascomb Hall, Suite B, 440-775-8470
CAPS@oberlin.edu

Counseling and Psychological Services provides psychological support to Oberlin students on a short-term basis and gives referrals to private counselors in the Oberlin area if necessary. The center is funded through tuition, and there are no fees to Oberlin students, though students are responsible for the cost of external services.

Multicultural Resource Center (MRC)

The Multicultural Resource Center provides programs and services that affirm and promote equity for students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and first-generation college students. We are committed to working with campus and community partners to create a climate where all students belong and have equitable opportunities and outcomes. The MRC website has an extensive list of support resources.

Student Accessibility Services

Student Accessibility Services at the Center for Student Success facilitates equal access to all programs, services, and activities that are provided at Oberlin College while encouraging and helping students to develop self-advocacy.

Center for Student Success

The Center for Student Success offers students a central place to receive a range of academic support, resources, and guidance.  

Office of Religious and Spiritual Life

The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL) is a multifaith resource center that supports religious practice, education, service, and activism, and provides spiritual support and counseling.

Human Resources

The Department of Human Resources is responsible for Oberlin College’s employee recruitment, benefits administration, payroll processing, maintenance of personnel records, performance appraisal management, employee development and training, and the management of employee and labor relations. 

Employee Assistance Program

Cleveland Clinic Lifestyle Employee Assistance Program is available to provide support to Oberlin College employees and their families through a broad range of services and confidential counseling related to health, wellness and life balance. This service is free of charge. Call 800-989-3277.

Resources Related to the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy

The College recognizes that deciding whether to report sexual misconduct, either to the College or law enforcement, can be difficult. All individuals are encouraged to seek the support of trained professionals on campus and in the local community, regardless of when or where the incident occurred. These professionals can provide guidance in making decisions, information about available resources and procedural options, and assistance to any party in the event that a report and/or resolution under this policy is pursued.  Some of the resources listed here are Confidential and Privileged Resources under Ohio law. That means they cannot share information without the consent of the individual seeking assistance. In all cases, however, the resources are required to report information to law enforcement if they believe there is a threat of immediate harm to the individual or to others or if there is a suspicion of abuse of a minor under the age of 18.

The legal reporting requirements vary for each resource listed on this page. If a resource's requirements are known,  they are explained under the heading NEED TO KNOW.  

Remember: you can always ask someone what their reporting requirements are before speaking to them about your experience of sexual misconduct.

NEED TO KNOW: Preserving evidence can help prove an incident of sexual misconduct. Do not take a shower or change your clothes before you seek medical attention. Do not delete electronic communication, pictures or videos that can help prove what happened, even if you aren't sure you'll report the incident.

Counseling and Psychological Services

140 West College St., Dascomb Hall, Suite B
440-775-8470
CAPS@oberlin.edu

Counseling and Psychological Services provides psychological support to Oberlin students on a short-term basis and gives referrals to private counselors in the Oberlin area if necessary. The center is funded through tuition, and there are no fees to Oberlin students, though students are responsible for the cost of external services.

NEED TO KNOW: In Ohio, professional counselors are not required to report sexual misconduct.

Student Health Services

140 West College St., Dascomb Hall, Suite B 
440-775-8180 
student.health@oberlin.edu 

Student Health Services provides primary care services and follow-up care to Oberlin students for a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries including men's and women's health services.

NEED TO KNOW: In the state of Ohio medical professionals have legally mandated reporting responsibilities. However, if you’re not ready to report an incident of sexualized violence or speak to the police, the medical professional will create a report without your name that contains general information such as time, date and location of the incident. While Student Health Services is required to notify law enforcement under limited circumstances, they will not notify the college without your consent.

Multifaith Chaplain David Dorsey

68 S. Professor St.
440-775-8103

 

Multifaith Chaplain David Dorsey is available for the confidential care and counsel of students, staff, and faculty, or to help facilitate introductions to area religious leaders, spiritual coaches of your choosing.

NEED TO KNOW: Members of clergy (representatives of an officially recognized faith) offering support or ministry in their official capacity of providing spiritual counsel, they are not required to report sexual misconduct.

Confidential Advocate

by appointment in Peters G24
college_advocate@nordcenter.org
or through the Nord Sexual Assault Services Hotline 440-204-4359

Vee Ybarra (they/them) is an advocate with Nord Sexual Assault Services who comes to campus by appointment to provide acute crisis services and on-going support to individuals who have experienced sexual harm.

NEED TO KNOW:  Vee will not report anything you say to the college. If you decide to make a report to the college, Vee may be available to support you while you do.

NEED TO KNOW: Preserving evidence can help prove an incident of sexual misconduct. Do not take a shower or change your clothes before you seek medical attention. Do not delete electronic communication, pictures or videos that can help prove what happened, even if you aren't sure you'll report the incident.

The Nord Center Sexual Assault Care Unit

6140 S. Broadway, Lorain, OH 44053
24-hour Hotline: 1-800-888-6161
Regular Line: 440-233-7232

The Sexual Assault Care Unit (SACU) at the Nord Center is where residents of Lorain County can go to obtain medical care immediately after experiencing sexualized violence. Hospitals in the area, such as Mercy Allen, will refer patients to the SACU unless the patient needs medical care in the hospital for mental or physical reasons. The SACU has capabilities that hospitals do not, such as privacy, an added level of comfort, and high-quality equipment that is used during the sexual assault forensic exam, also known as a rape kit. Campus Safety can provide free rides to the SACU. You will be asked to identify yourself to Campus Safety for transportation purposes, but you will not be required to report a reason for the ride to the Nord Center. You may take a support person along with you.

What to expect during a sexual assault forensic exam

NEED TO KNOW: The hotline may be staffed by Oberlin students; you can request an advocate who is not an Oberlin student.

NEED TO KNOW: The Nord Center SACU will provide a cab for you to and from their office. Call the 24-hour hotline to make arrangements, and for more information.

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center

1228 Euclid Ave., Suite 200, Cleveland, OH 44115
24-hour Hotline: 216-619-6192

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center provides free, comprehensive healing and advocacy services to survivors of sexualized violence and sex trafficking and the people who support them.

Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO)

Toll-Free Help Line: 1-866-862-7286

BRAVO offers advocacy and assistance for hate crimes, discrimination, domestic violence, and sexual assault. BRAVO is a founding member of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP).

Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County (MHARS)

24-hour Hotline: 1-800-888-6161

MHARS hotline is a confidential support, referral and crisis evaluation service. Trained mental health professionals answer the hotline 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Family Planning Services of Lorain County

602 Leona St., Elyria, OH 44035
440-322-7526

Family Planning Services of Lorain County is a non-profit, reproductive healthcare organization that provides confidential, high quality, and low-cost reproductive health care to men and women, including exams, birth control, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, STI screening and treatment, and health education.

Genesis House 

24-hour Hotline: 440-244-1853 / 440-323-3400

Genesis House provides a comprehensive range of family-focused services for people in Lorain County who experience domestic violence.

Lorain Planned Parenthood

200 W. 9th St., Lorain, OH 44052
440-242-2087

Lorain Planned Parenthood offers abortion referral, birth control, general health care, HIV testing, LGBT services, the morning-after pill (emergency contraception), pregnancy testing and services, STD testing, treatment and vaccines, and men's and women's health care.

The Preterm Clinic

12000 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland, OH 441202
216-991-4000

The Preterm Clinic provides abortion care and related services to women of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and Northeast Ohio.

How to Get There

In the event of an emergency, Campus Safety will provide transportation to local law enforcement or to the Nord Center Sexual Assault Care Unit. To access an emergency ride, call 440-775-8911.

NEED TO KNOW: The Nord Center SACU will pay for a taxi to and from their facility. Please call their 24-hour hotline at 800-888-6161 for more information.

Car Services 
A 2 Point B Transportation: 440-775-7222
ACE Taxi: 216-361-4700

Oberlin SIC
The Oberlin Sexual Information Center may be able to offer free rides to local sexual health clinics. To contact the SIC and inquire about rides:
Wilder Hall, Room 203
440-775-8135
sic@oberlin.edu

Oberlin Connector Transit Service 

By contract with Lorain County Transit (LCT), the city of Oberlin provides demand-response public transit service in Oberlin on Mondays and Thursdays.

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)

rainn.org offers 24hrs/7days access to trained support specialists available by online chat. The service is free and confidential, and they can offer you support and help you find additional resources.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline

Live chat services are available from 7 a.m.-2 a.m. Central Time at www.thehotline.org. Trained advocates provide confidential support around experiences of domestic violence, or intimate partner violence.

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project has a free, confidential online chat resource from 3-9 p.m. at www.thetrevorproject.org. The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth ages 13-24.

Anyone studying away should check with their program to learn about sexual misconduct policies they may have in place to protect students.

  • Community members who are studying or completing academic work for the college outside of the U.S. are not covered by Title IX, and as a result, are not covered by Oberlin's Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy. 
  • Students studying away within the U.S. may be covered by Title IX and should report to the Title IX coordinator of the institution where they are studying.
  • Depending on the program and the misconduct, some community members may be covered under the college's Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy for misconduct experienced while away.
  • Oberlin College students and employees may always request support resources from the college regardless of when or where an incident may have happened.

It is important to keep in mind that the laws and customs of other countries, reporting options, and support resources may differ from those of the United States. If you are out of the country and need assistance, please contact Rebecca Mosely, Title IX coordinator, or any staff members listed on the How to File a Report page, who will coordinate a support response with Jonnathan De La Fuente, director of International Programs and Study Away. You may also report online now.

Referrals for medical care may be obtained through the study away program staff, or the appropriate travel health insurance carrier. United States citizens can also contact the nearest United States embassy or consulate or call American Citizen Services 202-501-4444; citizens of other countries can contact the nearest embassy or consulate of the country of their citizenship.

The  U.S. State Department  offers resources and information for U.S. citizens who have been the victims of crime overseas.