Whittier College encourages prompt reporting of sexual harassment, sexual violence, stalking, or domestic/dating violence to the College or local law enforcement.
The College recognizes that individuals may not be ready to report or may not be sure what has happened. This resource section is designed to provide information and support resources, including confidential resources who will not share information without the person’s permission.
On-Campus Resources
Student Counseling Center
Rebecca Romberger, PsyD
Director
Haverhill A (next to Campus Safety Office)
562.907.4239
24-hour On-Call Counselor 562.907.4211
rromberger@whittier.edu
The Whittier College Health and Wellness Center provides general medical attention and birth control. Call 562.464.4548
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Please contact Human Resources to obtain information about the confidential Employee Assistance Program at 562.907.4208.
Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital (PIH) in Whittier works with a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) to provide free, safe, private examinations for survivors. Call Project Sister to set up an appointment 24 hours a day. 909.626.4357
Whittier College encourages you to report to the Whittier Police Department at 562.567.9200 or 911
Off-Campus Confidential Resources
Project Sister
Provides a 24-hour hotline, accompaniment program, Information and referral services, professional counseling series, support groups, and a walk-in clinic.
P.O. Box 1369
Pomona, CA 91769-1369
24-Hour Hotline: 909.626.4357
Phone: 909.623.1619
info@projectsister.org
East Los Angeles Women’s Center
Provides free, confidential, bilingual (in Spanish) crisis response and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking.
1255 South Atlantic Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90022
800.585.6231
Peace over Violence
Provides comprehensive, free treatment for sexual assault survivors, including 24-hour emergency medical care and forensic service, counseling and psychotherapy, advocacy, and accompaniment services.
West San Gabriel Valley Center
892 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Suite D
Pasadena, CA 91103-3046
310.392.8381
213.626.3393
626.793.3385
info@peaceoverviolence.org
Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)
A confidential, anonymous national sexual assault hotline
1.800.656.4673
Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center
Provides comprehensive, free treatment for sexual assault victims, including 24-hour emergency medical care and forensic services, counseling and psychotherapy, advocacy and accompaniment services.
310.319.4000, Ext. 3.
Los Angeles LGBT Center
Provides support and advocacy services for LGBT community members.
1625 N. Schrader Blvd.
Los Angeles 90028
323.993.7400
The Women’s and Children’s Crisis Center in Whittier provides shelter for victims of domestic violence and 24-hour crisis response. 562.945.3939
Medical Considerations and Resources
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) nurses are trained to work with victims of sexual misconduct, and are available at multiple hospitals (provided below) provide free medical services and evidence collection to sexual assault survivors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are thinking about reporting an incident of sexual assault, you can preserve evidence by keeping any clothes worn, sheets, or other evidence at the scene in a paper bag. If possible, do not shower, cleanse, douche, urinate, defecate, eat, drink, or brush teeth. It is important to preserve evidence as it may be necessary to the proof of criminal domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, or in obtaining a protection order. Evidence can be collected up to 5 days after an incident and medical attention is important at any time.
Under California law, medical providers (but not psychological counselors) are required to notify law enforcement if a patient communicates a sexual assault has occurred. The patient has the right to request that a survivor advocate be present when speaking to law enforcement and to request that criminal charges not be pursued. Any additional information is covered under HIPPA.
Taxi vouchers are available from the Health and Wellness Center and Campus Safety to provide free transportation to local medical resources. A member of the Support Person Program is also available to accompany a survivor to off-campus resources, as well as a victim advocate from Project Sister.
Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital
12401 Washington Blvd.
Whittier, CA
Has Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) nurses that have received specific training in how to provide victim-centered medical treatment and forensic evidence collection after an assault.
Call Project Sister 24 hours a day and they will coordinate this service: 909.626.4357.
For the hospital emergency room, call 562.698.0811.
San Gabriel Valley Medical Center
435 W. Las Tunas Dr.
San Gabriel, CA 91776
Has Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) nurses that have received specific training in how to provide victim-centered medical treatment and forensic evidence collection after an assault.
Call the SART Hotline 24 hours a day and they will coordinate this service: 877.209.3049
LA County/USC Medical Center
1200 N. State Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Has Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) nurses that have received specific training in how to provide victim-centered medical treatment and forensic evidence collection after an assault.
323.226.3961
Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center
1250 16th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Provides comprehensive, free treatment for sexual assault victims, including 24-hour emergency medical care and forensic services, counseling and psychotherapy, advocacy, and accompaniment services, and has Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) nurses that have received specific training in how to provide victim-centered medical treatment and forensic evidence collection after an assault available.
310.319.4000, Ext. 3
Accommodations and Academic Relief for Students
Various accommodations can be made for those that have experienced sexual misconduct, including room changes, changes of locks, extra security rounds, campus restraining orders, no contact orders, assistance with academics. These can be arranged through the Dean of Students Office 562.907.4233 during business hours or immediately through the administrator on call (contact through Campus Safety at 562.907.4911).
Additionally, the Support Person Program or staff in the Dean of Students Office can assist alleged victims with extensions, absences, and other academic accommodations, providing only generic information to professors for the accommodation (with no information about Title IX or sexual misconduct).
Lastly, students should receive no financial aid penalty as a result of experiencing sexual misconduct. The Dean of Students Office or Support Person Program can assist students in working with the Office of Financial Aid to assist with this process.
Office of Financial Aid
Weingart Hall, 2nd Floor
562.907.4285
Complaints
All students, staff, and faculty have the right to submit inquiries or complaints concerning the application of Title IX the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights:
Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
50 Beale Street, Suite 7200
San Francisco, CA 94105
Customer Service Hotline: 415.486.5555
Fax: 415.486.5570
TDD#: 877.521.2172
Email: OCR.SanFrancisco@ed.gov
Legal Assistance
Students, staff, and faculty have the right to legal assistance and representation. Provision of these resources is not an endorsement of their services and the College is not responsible or liable for poor or negligent legal advice
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
For more than 85 years, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) has provided civil legal services to poor and low-income people in Los Angeles County. LAFLA has five offices in the Los Angeles area, including three Domestic Violence Clinics located at the Superior Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Courthouse and the Long Beach Courthouse.
800.399.4529
SurvJustice
Legal assistance for survivors in campus, criminal and civil legal systems. SurvJustice provides direct assistance for campus cases and partners with local, regional and national law firms to assist in civil and criminal cases.
1629 K Street NW, Suite 300
Washington D.C. 20006-1631
Other legal resources may be found online.
This policy was updated on August 11, 2016.