One of the main concerns that some witnesses have during Title IX proceedings is that they could get in trouble if they answer the investigator’s questions.
For example, if the incident in question took place at a party, you may be forced to reveal that you were consuming drugs or alcohol against campus policies. Alternatively, you might be worried that they could find that you were complicit in the alleged assault or harassment.
Some schools may offer you amnesty from disciplinary action in exchange for your cooperation as a witness. However, even schools that do offer this may reserve the right to refuse amnesty under certain circumstances.
If this is a concern that you have, you should contact a student defense attorney before you agree to anything, and certainly before you give an official statement. An attorney can help you comb through your university’s policies and make sure that you’re not exposing yourself to disciplinary action as a result of your cooperation.