Prevention at Home and in Your Apartment or Dorm Room

• Lock your doors and secure windows when leaving regardless of the length of time you plan to be away.
• Lock your doors even if you are home; it may keep unwanted guests from gaining entry.
• Never leave money, purses, wallets, expensive jewelry, or other valuables laying around.
• Never leave a note on your door stating that you are away or indicating what time you will return.
• Do not open the door automatically when hearing a knock.  Require callers to identify themselves satisfactorily before allowing them entry.
• Do not allow "door to door" salesmen to enter your room.  Most College regulations do not permit salesmen on college property.
• Do not loan your keys to anyone.
• If your apartment is equipped with an intrusion or panic alarm system, learn how to use it properly.  Even the best alarm system cannot function if you fail to use it.

Precautions Around Campus

• Never leave clubrooms unlocked an unoccupied.
• Stay in the laundry area while doing laundry; remove clothing from the washer or dryer as soon as cycle is over.
• Place your name on several pages throughout all your books.  This is positive identification in the event of theft and the book being sold.
• Be suspicious of unknown persons in the area, note their description and call the Department of Public Safety immediately.  Dial 911

A victim of a sexual assault should:

1. GET TO A SAFE PLACE AND CALL SOMEONE TRUSTED.
2. CALL 911.
3. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.
   It is extremely important that the victim seeks immediate medical evaluation following a sexual assault. The best place for this evaluation is a hospital emergency room. In addition to treating any injuries, evaluating and treating for possible exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, the emergency room staff is expertly trained to collect valuable medical evidence. This evidence may be used in the event that the victim wishes to have the perpetrator prosecuted at a later time. Without this evidence, it is very difficult to get a conviction. Remember, do not drink, bathe, douche, brush teeth, change clothes or comb hair. It is only natural to want to do these things, but doing so may destroy evidence. If changing clothes is necessary, all clothing worn during the assault should be placed in a paper bag and taken to the hospital. The victim may wish to have a friend or family member accompany her/him to the hospital or if the victim wishes, someone from the college can accompany him/her.
4. SEEK COUNSELING.  Regardless if whether the assault is reported, it is often helpful to seek counseling for the traumatic experience.
5. DOCUMENT THE INCIDENT. A victim should write down every detail about the incident including: who, what, when, where and how. At the first opportunity, the information should be brought to the attention of the Public Safety Office or one of the resources listed in this brochure.
   • If the Police Department is to be involved and criminal charges are filed, this information is crucial.
6. DECIDE HOW TO PROCEED.  The decision to prosecute the suspect and/or initiate internal judicial proceedings lies with the victim.

• Judicial Process — External
  If the victim wishes to have the assailant prosecuted, the police and the district attorney’s office will handle the legal proceedings.
• Judicial Process — Internal
  If the alleged perpetrator is a member of the college community, the victim also has the option to file a complaint through the college’s disciplinary systems. Any campus proceeding will be handled with sensitivity and with respect for confidentiality and the complainant and the respondent are entitled to have an advisor present during the hearing. At the conclusion of the internal judicial hearing, the complainant and the respondent shall be informed of the outcome (decision and sanction). Sanctions that may be imposed range from a formal warning to expulsion from the college. Detailed procedures concerning the campus disciplinary hearings, including the rights of the complainant and respondent, are contained in the Community Standards section of the Student Handbook. Whether the victim chooses the external or internal process, a college representative will be available to assist throughout the process and provide transportation to off campus sites.
• Accommodations
  Academic and living arrangements may be made to accommodate the victim’s needs. For example, if the victim and the accused are in the same class or residence hall, arrangements may be made to separate the two.
• Registered Sex Offender Information
  The campus community can obtain up to date law enforcement agency information provided by the State of New York concerning registered sex offenders from the  New York State Sex Offender Registry Web site at http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/.
• More Information
  The complete policy statement on sexual assault and information on preventing sexual assault is available in the following offices: Residence Life, Student Activities, Student Affairs, Public Safety, Health Services and the Counseling Center.