Yale University statement regarding the Report of Complaints of Sexual Misconduct Brought Forward from January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2013

Sexual misconduct is a serious problem, not only on Yale’s campus but also on college and university campuses across the country — a problem that institutions of higher education must eradicate.

Yale University does not tolerate rape or sexual misconduct of any kind. One of the reasons the university publishes semi-annual Reports of Complaints of Sexual Misconduct is to engage the entire community in efforts to prevent it. As far as we know, Yale is the only university that issues such a report. We do so because we believe public disclosure of this information raises awareness and generates discussion about sexual misconduct.

Yale uses the term “non-consensual sex” to describe a range of behaviors that fall within the University’s broad definition of sexual misconduct. This definition requires clear and unambiguous consent to each activity at every stage of a sexual encounter. Moreover, Yale applies a “preponderance of the evidence” standard (a lighter burden of proof than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” criminal standard) to determine misconduct. In this way Yale is able to — and does — impose discipline for improper conduct that would not meet a criminal standard.

The University reports all complaints of sexual assault it receives to the Yale University Police Department (YPD), which has full powers of law enforcement and arrest. Any person who reports a sexual assault is encouraged to contact YPD and is advised of the resources and assistance they can provide. For individuals who choose to pursue criminal complaints, the University provides assistance and support throughout the process.

To encourage reporting of sexual misconduct, we protect the privacy of all individuals involved in the complaint process. One result of this commitment to confidentiality is that the descriptions in the semi-annual reports cannot fully capture the diversity and complexity of the circumstances associated with the complaints, or the factors that determined the outcomes and sanctions. Nonetheless, the range of penalties described in these reports reflects our readiness to impose harsh sanctions when the findings warrant them.

Yale continues to devote significant resources to improving the campus climate and making our community safe for everyone. We have expanded counseling and educational programs and fortified our administrative processes, which our students, faculty, and staff have found to be meaningful and effective.

 All Title IX related reports may be found here.