What is Title IX?
Title IX, a federal anti-discrimination law, prohibits sex discrimination in education programs or activities. Belmont University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs or activities, including but not limited to in admissions or employment. For inquiries about the application of Title IX to Belmont University, or to file a complaint, please contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator, Carly Elliot at carly.elliott@belmont.edu or TitleIX@Belmont.edu, 615.460.6894, 1900 Belmont Boulevard, Freeman Hall (Third Floor), Nashville, TN 37212. Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or harassment), to the Title IX Coordinator in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, including during non-business hours. Incidents of sex discrimination may also be reported to the Department of Education, Assistant Secretary.
Belmont University is committed to providing an environment free from discrimination based on sex and provides a number of resources and services to assist students, faculty and staff in addressing issues involving sex discrimination, including sexual violence.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects individuals from discrimination based on sex in any educational program or activity operated by recipients of federal financial assistance. Sexual harassment, which includes acts of sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX.
If you are a victim of violence we are here to support you. Belmont University believes that violence of any kind should not be tolerated.
Sexual violence can happen to anyone regardless of factors such as race, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, class or profession. Belmont is dedicated to serving and supporting all victims without discrimination. Belmont does not condone sexual misconduct and hopes to end sexual violence by providing resources to victims and changing the culture.
There are many resources and departments on campus that can help you, and you’ll find resources and links on this website that can help you.
For survivors and victims of interpersonal violence:
Immediate Contact Information for Resources
Belmont Non-Emergency: 615-460-6617
Belmont Emergency: 615-460-6911
Metro Non-Emergency: 615-862-8600
Metro Emergency: 911
Campus Security is located in Gabhart Student Center. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Carly Elliott
Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance
Title IX Coordinator
Freeman Hall
Office: 615.460.6894
Email: carly.elliott@belmont.edu
Meg Arnold
Interim Chief Human Resources Officer/Director & Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Office of Human Resources
Fidelity Hall
Office: 615.460.6172
Email: meg.arnold@belmont.edu
Reporting Sexual Misconduct to Belmont
If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual misconduct, whether perpetrated by a Belmont employee or student or by a third party, you may report it to the university’s Title IX Coordinator, officers in Campus Security, staff in Residence Life, staff in the University’s Dean of Students office, and/or staff in Human Resources. The University has designated these employees as “Responsible Employees” for reporting violations of the sexual misconduct policy. Accordingly, the university encourages making reports to these employees.
Note, though, that reporting to one of these sources is not confidential and details of the incident will be shared with the Title IX Coordinator for him or her to determine next steps. A person may make a Request for Privacy to the Title IX Coordinator so that the incident is not addressed via the university’s Sexual Misconduct Accountability Process. The University will make every effort to accommodate a person’s wish for privacy. Only if the sexual misconduct violation poses a substantial risk to the safety or orderly operation of the campus community will the university consider proceeding despite a person’s wish for privacy. For completely confidential assistance that does not report to the Title IX Coordinator, refer to the “Confidential Resources in the Aftermath of Sexual Misconduct Experience” section of this policy.
Responsible Employees who fail to make a report of sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator when they knew or reasonably should have known of the sexual misconduct will be referred for disciplinary action, the consequences of which will depend upon the egregiousness of the unreported sexual misconduct and the Responsible Employee’s pattern of behavior, if any, related to reporting.
Reporting Sexual Misconduct to External Authorities
Behavior that violates the Sexual Misconduct Policy may also constitute illegal criminal acts. The university’s accountability process is separate and different from any criminal process a person may wish to pursue. A person is encouraged to pursue both and may do so simultaneously. The university’s Title IX Coordinator will assist individuals with beginning the process of contacting the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department.
Alternatively, a person may contact the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department directly. The Sex Crimes Section is open from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Friday, though detectives are on-call 24 hours a day. To report a crime occurring locally to external authorities, please contact: Nashville Metropolitan Police Department’s Sex Crimes Section at 615.862.7540.
The Office of Campus Security can assist in the reporting process as needed, and can be reached at: 615-460-6617”
UNTIL YOU DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE EVIDENCE COLLECTED IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO:
- DO NOT shower or brush your teeth, if at all possible.
- DO NOT go to the bathroom, if at all possible.
- DO NOT drink or smoke.
- DO NOT change your clothes or underwear. If you have removed this clothing, bring it with you to the hospital in a paper bag. This may preserve a lot of evidence.
Get to a safe place, such as a residence assistant or residence director’s room, the campus security offices located in Gabhart Student Center, or a trusted friend’s room or off-campus residence.
- If you are off campus and injured, call 911 for immediate help.
- If you are on campus and injured, call Campus Security at (615) 460-6911 for immediate help. Campus Security will come to your aid and summon Metro emergency responders.
If you have been the victim of non-consensual sexual intercourse, it is strongly recommended that you visit an emergency room/SAFE Clinic within 24 hours for a rape evidence examination to preserve evidence and support your opportunity to make decisions later. If possible, take a trusted friend or relative with you to the hospital to provide additional support. Belmont personnel from the Office of Student Affairs are available to accompany you to the exam. Victims of sexual assault may obtain an exam at the following locations:
- Metro General Hospital, 1818 Albion Street, Nashville, TN 37208
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1313 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232
- Nashville Sexual Assault Center, 101 French Landing Drive, Nashville, TN 37228
www.sacenter.org www.nashvillesafeclinic.org
Deciding whether or not to report a crime to police may be difficult for you. If you decide to go to the hospital, by procedure hospital staff will alert the police of your arrival. It is up to you if you would like to file a police report or talk to a police officer. You will be asked if you would like a sexual assault counselor to assist you at the hospital. This counselor is trained to help you think through your options as well as answer any questions that you might have throughout the entire process.
- Counseling Services | 615-460-6856
- Health Services | 615-460-5506
- University Ministries pastoral care | 615-460-6419
- Dr. Amy Hodges Hamilton, Confidential Advocate | amy.hodgeshamilton@belmont.edu
TN Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
Sexual Assault Center
Local/Regional Contacts
Crisis Intervention Hotline: 615.244.7444
Nashville Metro Police Dept. Sex Crimes: 615.862.7540
Nashville Fire Department: 615.862.5421
Tennessee Highway Patrol: 615.741.3181
Counseling Hotlines
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800.799.7233
24-hr Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800.273.8255
24-hr Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.879.1999
Mental Health Cooperative Crisis Line: 615.726.0125
Weaver YWCA Domestic Violence Center: 615.242.1199