Combating Sexual Assault and Other Unwelcome Sexual Behavior
Anyone – of any gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, citizenship status, race, class or educational level – can suffer from sexual harassment, including sexual violence. The goal of this website is to help you understand what sexual harassment means and let you know that there are people at CUNY and in the community who can help if you or others experience it. We want to make sure you understand your rights as a student, CUNY’s policies, and other issues related to sexual harassment, gender harassment and sexual violence.
On every CUNY campus there is a person who has special training in helping students who are facing issues related to sexual harassment and sexual violence. We urge you to contact this person (who is known as the “Title IX Coordinator”) for guidance or information.
You may contact your Title IX Coordinator (or the deputy Title IX Coordinator) for guidance and information. Please click on the “Campus Title IX Webpage” and choose your campus for information on your Title IX Coordinator.
If You Recently Were Sexually Assaulted:
If the incident occurred on-campus, call Public Safety or 911;
If the incident occurred off-campus, call 911 or go to the local NYPD precinct. Contacting the police does not require you to file charges.
Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Campus Public Safety or the police can help you get medical care or you can go on your own (or with a friend) to an emergency room. http://www.svfreenyc.org
Preserve evidence. You do not need to decide immediately whether to take action against the person who assaulted you. But if you might want to do this, it is important to preserve evidence of the assault. Go to an emergency room and ask for a SAFE or rape exam. (Do not bathe or brush your teeth prior to going.) For a list of hospitals in New York City with this service, go to: http://www.svfreenyc.org Retain the clothing you were wearing in a paper (not plastic) bag. If the assault took place in your home or dorm room, do not rearrange furniture and/or clean up.
We also encourage you to contact the Title IX Coordinator.
Title IX: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities at universities receiving federal funds. Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment or sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion
Special thanks to Brown University for allowing CUNY to use some of their materials