Who are the Complainants’ Codes Counselors (CCCs)?
The CCC Office is currently composed of seven law students. There is one Lead CCC and six CCCs. More information about the individual CCCs can be found on the Meet the Complainants’ Codes Counselors page.
Can I work with a CCC if I am not a Cornell student?
Yes. CCCs are available to anyone who believes a Cornell student, faculty, or staff member has committed prohibited conduct. You do not have to be affiliated with Cornell to reach out to our office. For example, if a member of the Ithaca community believes that a Cornell student, faculty, or staff member sexually harassed them, that individual is more than welcome to contact our office and work with us. Even if you are not a Cornell student or employee, there is still no charge to work with a CCC.
Can I work with a CCC if I was a respondent in a different case?
It depends. If you were previously a respondent in a Title IX, Institutional Equity, or Student Code case and have now experienced prohibited conduct yourself, you should first reach out to the Office of the Respondents’ Codes Counselor or your former advocate from that office. If the two cases are connected, or if there was a CCC representing the complainant in your previous, you made need to work with the Respondents’ Codes Counselors instead of our office to avoid any conflicts of interest.
Can I meet with a CCC if I have not filed a formal complaint?
Yes. We meet with complainants who wish to understand their options, understand the formal complaint process and their alternatives, or those who are just seeking more information or answers to specific questions.
Can I work with a CCC if I have not met with Title IX or OSCCS first?
Yes. In fact, we encourage complainants to meet with us as soon as possible, including prior to meeting with OIETIX or OSCCS staff, so that we can better understand your experience and help you make informed decisions about how to proceed.
I don’t want to go through the whole student conduct process, but I do want the person who harmed me to leave me alone. Can the CCCs still help me?
Yes. CCCs are extremely familiar and experienced with alternatives to the formal investigation and hearing process. Alternatives include mediation and alternate resolution (where you and the respondent agree to set of sanctions without a full investigation/hearing) and obtaining supportive measures only without filing an official complaint (such as getting a No Contact Order, changing your room assignment, or having the Registrar review your schedule prior to the first day of classes to alert you if you and the respondent have enrolled in the same course). CCCs can advise you on these options and help you get the resolution that works best for you.
Will the CCCs share my information with Title IX, OSCCS, or anyone else?
No. We are confidential resources, not mandatory reporters, so we will keep your information private. The only people your CCC would ever share your information with are the other CCCs in our office (to receive advice and support for your case) and your Victim Advocate (to improve holistic support for you, if you are comfortable with that). However, please note that we are not lawyers, so we do not have attorney-client privilege and could not guarantee confidentiality if you were to later pursue a legal proceeding regarding your complaint, such as a lawsuit against Cornell, and the office was subpoenaed as a result.
How do I get in touch with the CCCs?
You can reach our office via email at complaintadvice@cornell.edu. The Lead CCC will respond to you within 24 hours to schedule a meeting with you and an available CCC. After that point, you can always contact your assigned CCC directly with any questions or concerns.
How will I meet with the CCCs?
We are able to meet with complainants in the way that is most comfortable to you. We are able to meet both remotely via Zoom and in-person in our office, which is located in Myron Taylor Hall. Just let the Lead CCCs or your assigned CCC know your preference and we will be happy to accommodate you.
Do the CCCs actually work for Title IX or OSCCS instead of for complainants?
No. CCCs are paid out of the Student and Campus Life budget, but they operate independently from Title IX or OSCCS. The Directors of OIETIX and OSCCS have no involvement whatsoever in supervising the CCCs’ cases – they are only involved in providing the CCCs with initial training on the policies/procedures and overseeing our office’s administrative functions. All advice you receive from a CCC is based solely on that CCC’s experience and professional opinion, and all decisions about how to proceed with or resolve your case are made only by you.
I reached out to CCCs a while ago and decided against meeting with one or pursuing my case, but I’ve changed my mind. Can I still work with a CCC?
Yes. If you were assigned to a CCC, you can reach out to them to schedule a meeting or ask a question at any time. If you were not assigned to a CCC or think your CCC may have graduated by now, you can always reach out to the office email at complaintadvice@cornell.edu to begin working with the CCCs again. We are always here and happy to help.