Dear Members of the Campus Community,

As part of the university’s comprehensive approach to eliminate sex-based discrimination and violence, I write with an important reminder about resources available to assist in the prevention, reporting, and investigation of sexual misconduct.

I urge all of us – students, faculty, and staff members – to uphold these important policies and procedures that are designed to protect everyone who lives, works, and learns on our campus. We all must be vigilant in changing a culture in which such acts occur, whether on our campus or in our communities.

Resources and Training

  • Policy Prohibiting Sex-Based Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct. The federal law known as Title IX states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”  Under this and other laws as well as university policy, all students, faculty, and staff, regardless of gender, are protected from any sex-based discrimination, which includes sexual harassment or violence that is “severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the university’s Education Programs or Activities, creates a hostile or offensive work environment, or results in a negative employment action (such as a demotion or termination).” Our campus policy is binding upon all members of the campus community, including visitors and vendors. Please take the time now to review it and be fully aware of your responsibilities.
  • Training and Advocacy. Consider joining the work being done by Peer Allies and BRAVe, Bystander Revolution Against Violence; participating in “Take Back the Night” virtually in April; following the upsbrave Instagram account;  or signing up for a virtual Green Dot Bystander intervention workshop.
  • Sexual Violence Prevention Online Course. New this year is the Sexual Assault Prevention course for undergraduate students. This course was distributed to all enrolled students in late October, 2020. If you have not completed it yet, please do so this week.
  • Sexual Misconduct Resource Center. The resource center website provides important information about sexual misconduct prevention and response, including what to do if you have been assaulted, and how to seek and provide support to others.

Contact Information

  • Title IX Reporting and Investigation. Sandra Braedt is the university’s Title IX Coordinator/Equal Opportunity Officer and can be reached at titleix-eoo@pugetsound.edu, 253.879.3793, Wheelock 218. Please contact her or visit the Title IX website to learn more about reporting and support options. All employees must report any information regarding sex-based discrimination and harassment to the Title IX office or online at pugetsound.edu/report.
  • Staff Contact. Angela Hill, Human Resources Coordinator, can address staff questions that may arise about reporting. She can be reached at ahill@pugetsound.edu.
  • Faculty Ombudsperson. Dan Burgard serves as a faculty ombudsperson to address faculty questions that may arise about reporting. He can be reached at ombuds@pugetsound.edu.
  • University Chaplain. Rev. Dave Wright ’96 serves as a privileged resource for those who wish to discuss or reflect on issues related to sexual misconduct and other areas of concern. He can be reached at dwright@pugetsound.edu.

Thank you for everything that you do to help make the University of Puget Sound a place where every member of our community is valued, safe from harm, and treated with the utmost respect.