These FAQ’s are intended to help you answer some common questions related to your health, safety, general well being, campus involvement, and off-campus living. In many cases, the answers to the questions will point you in the direction of campus resources that are in place to support you in your studies. Please select a category of FAQs from the options below.
What do I do if I am sexually assaulted?
There are campus and community services to assist you 24/7. Call 911 (or (518) 442-3131 for University Police) for emergency assistance. You are strongly encouraged to go to Albany Medical Center immediately where there are specially trained sexual assault examiners. At the hospital they can provide a forensic evidence exam, evaluate your health status, and address timely health issues such as preventive medicines for exposure to STI’s including HIV and the option of emergency contraception. If you are unsure about contacting the police or going to the hospital, you can call the Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center’s hotline 24/7 at (518) 447-7716, the
University Counseling Center at (518) 442-5896, or the Middle Earth Peer Assistance hotline at (518) 442-5777 to talk over your concerns confidentially. The University has resources in place to assist you.
The pamphlet,
“What You Can Do If You or a Friend is Raped or Sexually Assaulted” provides more detail about resources and options. Remember, even if you engaged in some high risk behaviors, no one has the right to perpetrate a sexual act against you if you have not freely consented. Know the University takes the strongest possible stand against sexual violence in all its forms.
What do I do if I want to take a class in self-defense?
The University Police offers self defense classes for women, men and children. These classes are free to our community and are scheduled numerous times throughout the year. If a group of friends all want to take a class UPD can arrange this. For more information please visit
this page or contact one of our
RAD Instructors.
What do I do if I feel threatened or harassed by someone?
Contact the University Police department as soon as possible at (518) 442-3131 or 911 from a campus phone. Officers will assist in determining if there has been any violation of law or University Code of Conduct, make appropriate referrals to criminal court and/or the Office of Conflict Resolution & Civic Responsibility, and offer other advice to assist you in managing your situation.
What do I do if I am too drunk to drive home?
DO NOT DRIVE! A sober friend that you trust, taxi cabs, and public transportation are all much safer options. You may also want to consider finding a safe place to stay nearby that doesn't require you to drive. Driving after drinking any alcohol risks death or serious injury to you and other people. Remember, too, that underage persons with any amount of alcohol in their system can be arrested.
What do I do if I feel unsafe in my residence hall?
If you feel you are in immediate danger call University Police via 911 from a campus phone or (518) 442-3131 from an off campus (cell) phone. If you feel unsafe, but are not in immediate danger, bring the matter up to your Residence Assistant (RA). If your RA isn’t able to solve the safety problem you (or your RA) should bring it to the
Residence Director or Quad Coordinator. Safety is important, so do not hesitate to come forward with your issue.
What do I do if I need someone to walk me to my car from the library at night?
Call the Don’t Walk Alone Safety Escort Service at (518) 442-5511 to find out when the service is in operation, as well as to request a safety escort anywhere on the uptown campus during operational hours. Call the University Police Department at (518) 442-3131 and request a personal safety escort if Don’t Walk Alone is not in service.
I always lock my bedroom door, but my roommate never does. Is there anything I can do to try to protect my laptop?
The absolute best option is to talk with your roommate and agree to keep your door locked. Both the Department of Residential Life (your RA) and UPD can provide information to your roommate about how vital locking your door is to prevent theft. The vast majority of thefts from student housing are from rooms left unlocked. If you gain your roommate’s cooperation you can keep ALL of your property much safer – not just your laptop. Other options to protect your laptop include locking it away in a footlocker or other secure location when you are not using it or purchasing a cable lock system to prevent the laptop from being easily removed. With cable locks make sure you contact your manufacturer or a qualified professional to ensure that the cable device you are buying fits your laptop. As a last measure you may also purchase a program to load on your laptop so that, should it ever be stolen, it can be activated to assist in locating it.
What do I do if something was stolen out of my room?
If you have been a victim of theft you should contact the University Police Department (UPD) by dialing 911 from a campus phone, or (518) 442-3131 from an off campus (or cell) phone, immediately. A UPD officer will take a police report, which will initiate an investigation.
What do I do if I know someone pulled the fire alarm or otherwise committed property damage?
Falsely reporting an emergency (pulling a fire alarm) is a serious problem and a crime. If you know who pulled an alarm, or committed a crime you should call the University Police Department (UPD) at (518) 442-3131 (911 from an on campus phone) and know that all calls are confidential.
What do I do if I think my roommate might be stealing from me?
If you think that your roommate is stealing from you, you should contact your Resident Assistant (RA) immediately to discuss the details of the situation. You and your RA can then decide the best course of action.
What do I do if I get locked out of my room at midnight?
It is important that you carry your keys with you at all times. Duty staff are responsible for responding to emergencies and will only respond to lock outs at 1pm, 5pm, 10pm and midnight. After midnight a student should call the Quad Emergency Line.
Can I call UPD if I lock my keys in my car?
Yes, you can. The University Police may be able to unlock vehicles for their owners if the vehicle does not have electric locks. Proper identification and proof of registration are required to ensure that we are opening the vehicle for the correct person. If a vehicle is equipped with an electric system for locking and unlocking the doors UPD may not open the locks as the tool used may damage the electric locking system. In these cases UPD may assist in contacting any roadside assistance program you are a member of or a local locksmith of your choice. UPD can be reached by dialing 911 from a campus phone, or (518) 442-3131 from a cell or off campus phone.
What do I do if I want to report a crime?
The University Police are here 24/7 every day of the year. We may be reached at (518) 442-3131 or 911 from any University phone. Reports of criminal acts must be made in person. Official reports may not be made via telephone or email. We will dispatch a police officer to any on-campus location or you may stop in our station on the east side of campus near Indian Quad. Our officers will take a report that begins our investigation into the incident, and provide you with information on campus and local victim assistance programs and other information relevant to your situation. We also offer a wealth of information to help prevent our community members from falling victim to a criminal act. Stop by, call or email anytime to discuss options to keep you and your property safer.
