At University At Buffalo, Senator Gillibrand & Lieutenant Governor Hochul Meet With Students And Lead Organizing Effort To Combat Sexual Violence On College Campuses

Press Release

At a round table meeting at University at Buffalo, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul were joined today by students and officials from University at Buffalo and other Western New York area colleges, as well as survivors, advocates, and law enforcement and discussed bolstering efforts to combat sexual violence on college campuses. According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, college campuses in New York reported 388 forcible sex offenses and over 5,000 offenses nationwide in 2013.

Last week Gillibrand reintroduced a strengthened version of her bipartisan bill The Campus Accountability and Safety Act (S.590) after receiving input from survivors, students, colleges and universities, law enforcement, and advocates. Gillibrand's legislation would flip the current incentives of a broken system to provide real accountability and transparency from higher education institutions. The legislation would professionalize the response to and reporting of sexual assaults that occur on campuses to better protect and empower survivors of campus sexual violence, while also protecting the rights of accused students.

The legislation would secure landmark reforms for how colleges and universities address and report incidents of sexual assault that occur on their campuses. It incorporates feedback from key stakeholders to strengthen how student surveys are conducted and strengthens newly required training standards. The provisions safeguard both survivors and accused students. It extends the amount of time survivors have to file a case with the Department of Education, and sets new notification requirements for both survivors and accused students involved in the campus disciplinary process.

"Right now, some colleges and universities are more inclined to expel a student for cheating on an exam than for committing sexual assault," said Senator Gillibrand. "We know this problem is pervasive and too often swept under the rug. This bipartisan bill is a new path forward to protect students by flipping the incentives and holding schools accountable. I am grateful to the survivors and advocates whose work inspired this legislation. Our work isn't done, and now we need to work together to spotlight this problem, raise awareness, and organize around getting this bill passed so we can make our colleges safer and more transparent."

"We all have a responsibility to help combat the culture of sexual assault and rape on college campuses," Governor Cuomo said. "Senator Gillibrand has been a leader in this fight in Washington, and I commend her for the important work she has done and continues to do on this critically important issue. In New York, we're fighting to enact the toughest and most comprehensive law in the nation to combat sexual assault on college campuses. Enough is Enough, and this year I urge all New Yorker's to join our fight in combatting sexual assault on college campuses."

"Sexual assault is all too prevalent on college campuses, which is why here in New York we've said "Enough is Enough" and we are committed to doing something about it," said Lieutenant Governor Hochul. "Now is our defining moment to ensure that every college and university -- both public and private -- abides by the same set of standards so that victims have confidence to come forward without fear of retribution. Along with Senator Gillibrand's leadership in Washington and Governor Cuomo's actions at home, we are ready to bring fundamental change to a system in dire need of reform."

"As SUNY adopts a uniform sexual assault policy across the university system, we feel strongly that ours can be an example for the nation, and I commend Senator Gillibrand for her continued leadership on this issue in Washington," said State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. "The Senator's bill represents a critical step forward as we aim to ensure safe learning environments on college campuses across the country."

"For many years, the University at Buffalo has had prevention and awareness programs, policies and practices in place to deal with reports of sexual harassment and sexual violence, and we have adjusted them over time to make them more effective and assure that they comport with new laws, regulations and agency guidance," said Sharon Nolan-Weiss, director of UB's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Title IX coordinator. "We can always be doing more. Sexual assault prevention needs to be everyone's responsibility."

"On behalf of UB's student body we welcome Senator Gillibrand's dialogue on our campus, and we thank her for her leadership on the important issue of campus sexual assault," said Minahil Khan, Student Representative to the University at Buffalo Council. "The Senator's legislation would ensure that universities will hold perpetrators accountable, and I appreciate the powerful voice she has lent to students across the country."

"For too long victims of sexual assault and intimate partner abuse have been suffering behind closed doors; traumatized, terrified , embarrassed, brain-washed into believing it's their fault and paralyzed to move forward convinced no one will believe them or help them," said Mary Murphy, Executive Director of the Family Justice Center in Buffalo. "Sen. Gillibrand's leadership aimed at shining a spotlight on this issue and assisting victims via legislation is critical in ending this scourge on our society and holding abusers, and those who protect them, accountable for their actions."

"I am pleased to be part of the discussion about sexual assaults and working toward enhanced reporting and support systems on our area campuses," said Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard. "My office dedicates a great deal of resources and manpower to prevent and investigate sexually related crimes. This roundtable is another opportunity to reinforce our message that sexual assaults are not tolerated."

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