Title IX

 Title IX is a federal law that prohibits gender-based discrimination.  Edison also has a specific policy that prohibits gender-based  discrimination. Title IX protections apply to staff and students in our  Edison community. Regulations issued by the federal government detail  what qualifies as harassment or discrimination and how schools must  respond. Gender based discrimination behaviors could include sexual  misconduct, dating abuse or violence, and gender identity harassment.

To  inform our students, families, and staff of the Edison policy,  administrative guidelines, and available resources are provided here.

Complaints or reports alleging sexual assault, sexual harassment,  dating violence, stalking, or gender discrimination, including sexual  orientation or gender identity, involving an Edison student,  employee,  or person affiliated with Edison should be immediately reported to the  Title IX Coordinator.

Complaints or reports may be made  anonymously, but no disciplinary action will be taken against an alleged  aggressor solely on the basis of an anonymous report.

The Title IX Coordinator for Edison School of the Arts is Amy Berns, Bernsa@myips.org, 317-442-7854

If your friend has experienced sexual misconduct, dating violence, or  stalking, she/he may not be able to or ready to officially report it,  but you can still help. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when  talking to a friend about their experience:

• DON’T  decide what’s best for them. When someone is abused or violated, they  often feel victimized and need time to decide what to do.
• DON’T  judge them or doubt their story. If a friend is confiding in you about  being assaulted or harmed, it is important to not victim blame. For  example, don’t say things like, “I told you to break up with him. Why  didn’t you listen?”
• DON’T minimize what happened. Sometimes in  an effort to make someone feel better, it’s easy to try and say that  they will feel better soon or that it’s “no big deal.” These statements  may make them feel bad about certain feelings they are having.
• DO  let them know they are believed and supported. It is very common for  victims of abuse to think that nobody will believe them. If they are  confiding in you, they trust that you will be supportive.
• DO ask  what they need. People cope and respond differently to being abused.  Some like to talk about their feelings. Others like to be alone. Don’t  assume you know what they may want or need.
• DO encourage them to  seek help. It can be scary to tell an adult or the police about what  happened. Remind them that there are people at school who can help.  Also, it is very important to encourage them to seek medical help after  an assault.
• DO continue to be supportive. After the initial  shock of what happened, it can be easy to assume they are ok. Be sure to  check in on them even if they seem to be “back to normal.”
• DO  take care of yourself. It can be difficult and overwhelming to be  present for a friend in need. Remember to take care of yourself and seek  out help if needed.

The goal at Edison is to make reporting sexual misconduct, dating  violence, stalking, or retaliation as easy and comfortable as possible.

We have several options for students and/or guardians:

• You can report directly to the Title IX Coordinator, Amy Berns at 317-442-7854 or at bernsa@myips.org
• You can call IPS Police Department at 317-226-4633. 
• You  can tell a Principal, Social Worker, Counselor, Teen Dating Advocate,  or any other school employee, either verbally or in writing. All  employees at IPS are “mandatory reporters,” which means that all  employees are required to report these instances to the Title IX  Coordinator, and in some cases, the Department of Child Protective  Services. 

Follow the links below to learn more about Edison’s policies and  procedures regarding sexual misconduct, dating violence, stalking, and  retaliation. If warranted, the Title IX team will conduct an  investigation into the matter. This process, as well as how it is  determined whether an investigation will take place, can be found in  these policies. Also within these documents, you can find important  definitions and resources.