I worked at a local college for 5 years, I no longer work there. Each year we where required to go to a title IX meeting. This meeting was all about how, as employees, we were to handle a Title IX situation that we might witness or hear about. We were told that if we witnessed, or a student confided in us about, some type of sexual assault or harassment we were NOT to call law enforcement.
There was a list of 5 college employees that were suppose to be contacted, counselors and Title IX coordinators. I don't understand the law but these were the only employees under Title IX that were confidential. The rest of us were required to report stuff to the college, even if a student asked us not to report it. I understand that part but, it always bugged me that we were told to not contact law enforcement, even if we witness a sexual assault. I even ask why in one of these meetings and was basically told to contact the Title IX coordinator and the school would investigate and decide when to contact law enforcement. They basically said that not every victim wants law enforcement involved and the school would help them through the situation as needed. It always rubbed me the wrong way, I always thought it just gave the school a better chance to control the narrative, bury the incident. I think my thinking is turning out to be right as more and more of these problems surface at colleges across the country.
I think it is time that students and parents stop trusting college administration, professors and counselors to do the right thing; go straight to law enforcement and the media. The more eyes you can get looking that have nothing to do with the school, the better. Do it fast, don't give the school a chance to defend itself, go for the jugular because that's what these schools are doing with your kids.