Interim measures allows the victim to receive some protection prior to any sanctions that may occcur.  Sanctions can help to eliminate a hostile environment and prevent re-occurence of an action. 

Reply to Robin Wiebe's post: I agree.  In an online environment, it would be difficult to impossible to know what's happening behind the scenes unless someone reports it. Students could be sending e-mails of a sexual nature to other students or be "stalking" them.  I don't think I could identify something like this in my class discussions since they are specific to the topics of the class.  

Each institution must designate a Title IX coordinator.  In smaller schools, this does not have to be full-time position.  This person coordinates efforts to review and respond to all complaints of sexual discrimination and to work with other employees to prevent sex-based and gender-based harassment.  

The Title IX coordinator should help provide training for students and employees.  He/she should help the school develop a method to survey the campus climate, shoud maintain confidentiality, should coordinate recordkeeping, increase safety measures, and review effectiveness of efforts to ensure the school is free from sexual and gender-based harassment.   

Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activites in all federally funded schools.  It protects student, employers, and others from all forms of sexual descrimination regardless of sex including Sexual harassment, sezxual violence, and gender identity discrimination.  It covers acts that occur on campus and at off-campus events sponsored by the college.  The college is responsible for taking "prompt and effective" steps to end the discrimination.  

Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) requires colleges to report sexual violence including rape, stalking, etc.  Colleges should have disciplinary procedures in place, and have policies in place to address… >>>