IT IS AGAINST THE LAW AND UNIVERSITY POLICY TO DISCRIMINATE OR HARASS SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THE PERSON'S SEX.
Specifically, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, other federal and state laws and the University of South Carolina policy prohibit:
- sex discrimination and sexual harassment of students, faculty, staff and others who use the university’s resources;
- sexual misconduct, including sexual assault and other types of sexual violence;
- relationship violence and stalking;
- retaliation against anyone who complains about receiving such conduct or serves as a witness in cases involving such conduct.
USC Lancaster promotes an environment of nondiscrimination, inclusiveness, and equal opportunity and is dedicated to ensuring students, faculty, staff, and others who use the university’s resources are protected from the type of unlawful conduct described above.
Palmetto College
Students with concerns or questions, or who want to file a complaint about sex discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual assault at USC Lancaster should be directed to:
Dr. Todd Lekan
476 Hubbard Drive
Starr Hall Room 126
Lancaster SC 29720
803-313-7009
Faculty, staff or visitors with concerns or questions, or who want to file a complaint about sex discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual assault at USC Lancaster should be directed to:
Tracey Mobley Chavous
476 Hubbard Drive
Hubbard Hall Room 118
Lancaster SC 29720
803-313-7152
To report an incident of sexual assault on weekends or after 5:00 P. M. on weekdays, please call 911 for an immediate response.
You may also leave a voicemail message or send an email to the appropriate person listed above, who will provide a response during regular business hours.
Springs Memorial Hospital or the Lancaster City Police Department may also be contacted.
Lancaster Medical Center - MUSC Health
803-286-1214
800 W. Meeting Street
Lancaster SC 29720
Lancaster Police Department
803-283-3313 or 911
405 E. Arch Street
Lancaster SC 29720
Anyone who experiences or has knowledge of sex discrimination or sexual harassment (including sexual misconduct, such as sexual assault or sexual violence) is encouraged to contact the USC Lancaster Title IX Coordinator, Tracey Mobley Chavous, about incidents involving faculty, staff, vendors, contractors, or visitors. Incidents involving students should be reported to the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Todd Lekan.
Unless you are a confidential resource, any administrator or supervisor, including a department chair, associate dean or other administrator, or any person in a position of authority or power over a student who receives notice of a student's complaint of alleged unlawful sex discrimination or sexual harassment, including any sexual misconduct, such as sexual assault or other sexual violence, must immediately contact the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Todd Lekan. Failure to immediately report any Title IX incident may result in disciplinary action against any person (administrators, faculty or staff member) in a position of authority or power over a student.
If a student tells you he or she wants to report a sexual assault, unless you are a confidential resource (see below for a definition of who is a confidential resource), you should do the following:
1. Immediately, but politely, stop the student from revealing any additional information to you until you have told the student:
- That you are not a confidential resource.
- That you cannot keep the information confidential.
- That you must report the incident to the appropriate USC Lancaster official.
- That if the student wants the information to remain confidential, you can refer the student to a confidential resource.
2. Unless you are a confidential resource, you should assume you are a responsible employee and are required to report the sexual assault.
PLEASE SEE THE INFORMATION BELOW FOR DUTY TO REPORT CASES INVOLVING STUDENTS
If you hold a valid license in a profession that requires confidentiality, and/or you work in a USC job in which you are designated a confidential resource by the university, you are a confidential resource and are not a mandatory reporter. This means, normally, if a student reports to you that she or he has been sexually assaulted, you must obtain permission of the student before you may reveal the student’s identity. However, generally, in South Carolina, even if you are a confidential resource, if the incident involves suspected abuse of a child (a person under the age of 18) you must report the incident (to South Carolina Department of Social Services or to law enforcement). Please report any incident that involves sex discrimination or sexual harassment (including sexual misconduct, sexual assault, or sexual violence) that you have experienced, witnessed, or has been reported to you. Remember, if a complainant requests anonymity, it is your responsibility to inform her or him that you cannot guarantee her/his anonymity or confidentiality, but you will do your best to honor any such request. If she/he wants a guarantee of confidentiality, she/he should be referred to a confidential resource. Confidential resources are not required to report the complainant’s identity.
Some local confidential resources include:
USC Lancaster Counseling Services
803-313-7131
Starr Hall Room 125
Catawba Community Mental Health Center
800-475-1979 or 803-285-7456
Palmetto Citizens Against Sexual Assault
803-286-5232
Lancaster Medical Center - MUSC Health
803-286-1214
Counseling Services
USC Lancaster Counseling Services
800-313-7131
Starr Hall Room 122
Catawba Community Mental Health Center
800-474-1979 or 803-285-7456
1906 Hwy 521 Bypass South Lancaster SC 29720
Medical Services
Lancaster Medical Center - MUSC Health
803-286-1214
800 W. Meeting Street
Lancaster SC 29720
Law Enforcement
Lancaster Police Department
803-283-3313 or 911
405 E. Arch Street
Lancaster SC 29720
Professional Support
Palmetto Citizens Against Sexual Assault
803-286-5232
106 North York Street
Lancaster SC 29720
Relocation Services
Safe Passage, Inc.
803-980-5437
Women’s Enrichment Center
803-286-5900 or 803-762-6699
Battered But Not Broken
803-385-2290