For Resident Advisors (RAs), staff, and faculty
- Someone who has been sexually assaulted or raped may not use those words to describe what has happened.
- Listen what the individual tells you. Sometimes assault victims need to talk about the attack, but others may be overwhelmed by any questions. Don’t interrogate her or him.
- Don’t blame the individual for her or his decisions.
- Be sensitive. Understand that the survivor will be dealing with a wide array of strong, and sometimes overwhelming, feelings.
- If you are an RA, tell the student that you must forward information about the sexual assault or rape to your Resident Director. All parties will keep the information as confidential as possible, but certain information must be shared so that the student can receive the help and support they need.
- If you are faculty or staff, contact the university’s Title IX Coordinator to report the information. The Title IX Coordinator will reach out to the student or employee to explain their rights, available resources, and to review reporting options. Assure the individual that, while certain information must be shared, the university will keep the information as confidential as possible. Contact information: Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, interim Title IX Coordinator: Dr. Saundra Liggins,168 Fenton Hall, 716-673-3358.
- The student or employee is not required to file a report with law enforcement or to pursue disciplinary action against the other party. The fact that information about the sexual assault or rape has been forwarded to the Title IX Coordinator does not mean that the individual will be required to move forward and file a criminal complaint or investigation with University Police, Student Conduct, or the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- For students: Offer to walk the student over to the Counseling Center. If that is not possible, ask the student if you may call the Counseling Center while the student is with you, in order to help facilitate a connection between the student and PAWS (Counseling Center). Explain the benefits of working with the Counseling Center such as gaining emotional support and learning about advocacy that its staff may be able to offer on the student’s behalf.
- For employees: Offer to walk the faculty/staff member over to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). If that is not possible, ask the employee if you may call EAP while the employee is with you, in order to help facilitate a connection between the employee and EAP, 716-673-3586.
- If you become aware that a person who is under age 18 was sexually assaulted, this may be considered a form of child abuse. It is imperative that you inform University Police, 716-673-3333. For more information, please consult: https://system.suny.edu/compliance/sunycpp/