Help is available on campus. The Health Services staff and Resident Advisors can help you obtain medical, emotional and legal services as needed. They are able to provide information and emotional support confidentially.

A state law requires that all faculty and staff (except Health Services staff) inform police of any crime which is reported to them. The purpose of this law is to ensure that data regarding violent crimes is collected and reported accurately in order to better inform students about safety on campus. This means that if you tell a staff or faculty member about an assault, the College is required to inform the police; however Health Services staff and R.A.s are exempt from this law.

If you do not want police to be notified you may speak confidentially to the Health Services staff. R.A.s can help connect you to these and other confidential sources of support.

Questions About Sexual Assault

Sometimes people are not sure if they should call what happened to them “sexual assault”, or they may feel troubled about an assault that happened some time ago. You may speak with someone anonymously by calling the the Victim Assistance Services Rape Crisis Helpline at 914-345-9111 or the New York Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project Hotline at 212-714-1141.

It is not your fault that someone assaulted you. Regardless of your actions, it is illegal for someone to make you participate in sexual activity against your will, even if s/he is your partner, even if you did not say “no” out loud or stopped saying “no” when the “no” was repeatedly ignored, even if one or both of you is drunk. Everyone has the right to be treated with respect. If you feel that you have been in a situation where your rights were not respected, we encourage you to seek support from the Health Services staff or a peer educator.