Governor Cuomo Announces SUNY Training Program to Help Prevent Sexual Assault and Stalking on College Campuses
Latest Effort of Governor Cuomo's Enough is Enough Campaign
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced a partnership between the New
York State Department of Health and the State University of New York to
help college faculty, staff and students identify sexual assault and interpersonal
violence, as well as learn safe methods of intervention. This collaboration
is the latest in a long line of efforts by Governor Cuomo's "Enough
is Enough" campaign to end sexual violence on college campuses.
"New York is a national leader in the fight against sexual assault
on college campuses and this new training further strengthens our efforts,"Governor Cuomo said. "If we are to truly put an end to these very serious crimes, New Yorkers
must not only understand how to protect themselves, but also know how
to help when others are in danger."
The trainings utilize existing research related to sexual violence prevention
on college campuses to teach bystanders how to intervene safely before,
during and after an incident of sexual abuse, relationship violence, or
stalking. Following these trainings, SUNY faculty and staff are certified
to implement bystander intervention training programs and share their
new knowledge and skills with the entire student body. These bystander
trainings are made possible thanks to an existing $496,000 federal Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention Rape Prevention and Education Program
grant. All SUNY campuses are eligible to participate at no cost to the school.
SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher said, "Through these training programs, we will provide students,
faculty, and staff with new insight into how to recognize an incident
of violence before it occurs and teach them a few actions they can take
that may prevent it from happening. Thank you to Commissioner Zucker and
his staff for their continued support and partnership as we work to prevent
sexual and interpersonal violence on SUNY campuses and in New York’s
communities."
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, "The Department of Health is extremely pleased to support SUNY's
efforts to prevent sexual and interpersonal violence on its campuses.
Community attitudes play a significant role in its tolerance for sexual
violence, and we commend SUNY for fostering a culture of nonviolence across
their campuses."
In July 2015, Governor Cuomo signed the "Enough Is Enough" legislation
to combat sexual assault on campuses statewide. Considered the most aggressive
policy of its kind nationwide, the legislation requires all colleges to
adopt a set of comprehensive procedures and guidelines, including a uniform
definition of affirmative consent. The legislation also calls for a statewide
amnesty policy that grants immunity to students who report assaults from
campus rule violations such as those on drugs and alcohol. In addition,
the policy calls for more law enforcement on New York State campuses,
comprehensive training requirements for new students and partnerships
with existing rape crisis centers.
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter said, "As one of the original authors of the Violence Against Women
Act, I know that smart public policy can make a meaningful difference
in all of our lives. Since its passage, we’ve been able to cut violence
rates by more than half, but instances of assault on campuses are still
far too common. That’s why I'm proud that New York is taking
this important step forward for our communities."
Congressman Eliot Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee,
said, "Sexual assaults on college campuses are among the most pressing
issues facing our higher education system. I applaud New York State DOH,
SUNY administrators, and Governor Cuomo for taking a proactive lead on
this issue by using vital funding from the CDC Rape Prevention and Education
Program to educate students on how to identify and safely intervene in
instances of sexual assault. This is a critical first step towards ending
the scourge of sexual violence that has plagued our nation’s colleges
for too long."
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney said, "I applaud Governor Cuomo and the SUNY system for their commitment to combating sexual violence on college campuses. This partnership between the Department of Health and the State University of New York will ensure that more students understand how to identify and intervene to prevent sexual assault and relationship violence, which have become far too prevalent on campuses across the nation."
Congressman Joe Crowley said, "Sadly, the incidences of sexual violence remain much too prevalent
across our state - and there is no question that we need to continue to
strengthen prevention efforts to help ensure the safety of New Yorkers,
especially on our college campuses. That's why this collaboration
between the Department of Health and the State University of New York
is so critical. These new training programs will not only educate the
college community and help raise awareness, but they will also help faculty
and students effectively combat sexual assault whenever it takes place.
New York has been at the forefront in the battle against sexual violence
and I applaud Governor Cuomo for his continued commitment to making our
campuses safer."
Congressman Paul Tonko said, "Students everywhere should be free to study and learn without
fear of violence. This discussion is vital in helping survivors of these
ugly crimes to overcome their challenges – and in preventing future
violence from happening. I applaud the Governor, DOH, and SUNY for this
collaborative effort, and look forward to working with them on a federal
level to ensure we are doing everything we can to make our college campuses
safer in New York State and beyond."
Congresswoman Kathleen Rice said, "This partnership will help equip school officials and students
with the knowledge and skills they need to identify sexual assault, relationship
violence and stalking and safely intervene to help prevent these crimes.
Bystander intervention training is one of the most effective tools we
have to combat sexual violence on college campuses, and this program will
help ensure that parents who send their kids to school in New York can
trust that they will be provided with a safe, secure and supportive learning
environment."
For additional information on the "Enough Is Enough" campaign, visit
www.ny.gov/EnoughisEnough