What is the Friendship Center?
The Friendship Center is the only shelter in Lewis and Clark, Jefferson and Broadwater Counties that provides a safe haven at no charge for women and children who have suffered domestic violence and sexual abuse. Carroll is a partner with the Helena Friendship Center.
What Can the Friendship Center Do For You?
Provide a Safe House- Counseling
- Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivor Groups
- Sexual Assault Outreach Program
- Crime Victim Advocate Program
- 24 Hour Crisis Line
- Order of Protection Assistance
- Children's Program and Groups
- Community Education
- Legal Assistance
Stalking
Stalking is prohibited and is defined as any behavior or activity occurring on more than one occasion that collectively instills fear in the victim, or threatens his or her safety, mental health, or physical health. Such behaviors and activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Nonconsensual communication, including person-to-person, telephone calls, voice mail messages, electronic mail, written letters or notes, unwanted gifts, etc.;
- Threatening or obscene gestures;
- Pursuing or following;
- Surveillance or other types of observation.
Sexual Offense
Carroll College values each member of the campus community and expects respect for the dignity and the sanctity of the individual. Any behavior involving sexual contact without consent or sexual intercourse without consent is a violation of the Carroll Mission Statement and Carroll Code of Conduct. A sexual offense in any form severely violates trust and respect and threatens the safety and well being of community members. Carroll will not tolerate acts of sexual offense committed by or against any member of the Carroll community.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
- Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or education; or
- Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for academic or employment decisions affecting such individual; or
- Such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s academic or professional performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work or academic environment.
The following are examples of conduct that may constitute sexual harassment:
- Sexual advances which are unwelcome (this may include situations which began as a reciprocal attraction but later ceased to be reciprocal);
- Sexual gestures;
- Graphic verbal comments of a sexual nature, including such comments about a person’s body, or sexually degrading words used to describe an individual;
- Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, or posters;
- Verbal abuse of a sexual nature, sexually oriented jokes, innuendoes, obscenities, or sexually suggestive letters, notes or invitations;
- Reprisals or threats after a negative response to sexual advances;
- Academic or employment benefits affected in exchange for sexual favors;
- Physical conduct such as assault, rape, impeding or blocking movements, or unwelcome touching.
See the Harrassment policy for information on reporting and complaint procedures.
Reporting Sexual Assaults
A student who has been the victim of a sexual assault or unwanted sexual contact is strongly encouraged to contact any of the following:
- Emergency Services (Police, Fire, Ambulance) 911 (or 9-911 from a campus phone)
- Helena Police 406.442.3233 or 406.447.8461
- St. Peter’s Hospital 406.442.2480
- Friendship Center 406.443.5353
- Sexual Safety Educator 406.447.4524
- Carroll Dispatch Desk 406.447.5100 (5100 from a campus phone)
- Securitas Patrol Officer 406.461.7611
- On-Call Asst Dir of Community Living 406.459.0540
- On-Call Counselor 406.949.4357
- Director of Community Living 406.439.1564
Victims are encouraged to go to the emergency room of St. Peter’s Hospital to request a rape kit to preserve physical evidence and a medical exam to determine the presence of a sexually transmitted disease or pregnancy. An on-call victim advocate can be contacted through the Crisis Center and Support Line maintained by the Friendship Center. An on-call counselor can be contacted through Carroll College. A victim in need of a change in their campus housing can contact the Director of Community Living or an Assistant Director of Community Living. A victim in need of a change in their course schedule can contact the Registrar’s Office at 406.447.5503 (5503 from a campus phone). Victims unsure of the phone number of any individual college administrator can contact the Dispatch Desk 406.447.5100 (5100 from a campus phone) or Campus Information at 406.447.4300.
A student who has been the victim of sexual intercourse without consent or unwanted sexual contact without consent is strongly encouraged to contact the Helena Police to report the incident and the Director of Community Living to file a complaint with the college. The sexual safety educator from the Friendship Center staff or any Carroll counselor can provide support to any student reporting the incident to the police or to the college.
When a person files a complaint against another Carroll student regarding a sexual offense with the Director of Community Living, the complainant will be asked to submit a written account of the incident. The Director of Community
Living will contact the accused student and inform the student of the complaint. The accused will be asked to provide the Director of Community Living with a written account of the incident. The accused student will be prohibited from contacting the complainant or from retaliating against the complainant. Depending on the nature of the complaint, the college may take further steps to suspend the accused student from classes, campus or both classes and campus. The college may also assist the complainant in changing campus housing or class schedule if needed.
Both students have the opportunity to receive support from an advisor. Both students have the opportunity to review the written statements of each other and any written witness statements of individuals who have knowledge of the incident. Both students are given the opportunity to write a response to the written statements of each other. The written statements, witness statements and any written materials documenting physical evidence are submitted for review in a hearing before a Student Conduct Board.