These Procedures distinguish between Reports and Formal Complaints. A Report of alleged prohibited conduct is often the first contact with the OSCCS. A Formal Complaint is filed with the Director in writing, and is required for certain processes (commencing with required notifications and investigation) to be initiated under these Procedures. Any person providing an initial Report or filing a Formal Complaint under these Procedures will be designated the “Complainant.” A person providing an initial Report or filing a Formal Complaint of interpersonal misconduct committed against that individual, such as assault and endangerment, harassment and hazing, is an “Individual Complainant.” These Procedures afford certain additional rights to Individual Complainants.

 

The Dean of Students may appoint a designated individual or individuals to represent the University or individual units in cases in which there is an institutional interest. Further, such institutional representatives (for example, from Residence Life or Fraternity and Sorority Life), may provide additional support to Individual Complainants in cases where violations of the Code have potentially affected both individual(s) as well as University concerns.

 

A student or organization against whom a Report or Complaint has been made will be designated the “Respondent.”

 

Both the Complainant and the Respondent are referred to as “party” or “parties” throughout these Procedures. Any notice to a party required by the Code or these Procedures may be given in person, electronically to the party’s cornell.edu email account (or for organizations, to the cornell.edu email address of the President or other officer of the organization as listed in CampusGroups or other University records), or by any other means that provide the party with reasonably effective and timely notice.