Sexual Assault Resource Center

Student Brochure

Further Actions

  1. Talk to an advocate

    Advocates provide support and information about key resources, such as information about your option to report the incident to the police as well as information about crime victim funding and choices for seeking medical care. Advocates from the Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center (CVSVC) are available 24/7 at 447-7716. If you choose to go to the hospital, it is recommended that you see a trained advocate from the CVSVC while you are there.

  2. Seek support or counseling services

    It is normal to feel helpless, confused, frustrated, scared, traumatized, or even unusually calm. It is recommended that you contact the Sexual Assault Resource Center at (442-5800) for supportive services and for information about resources available at the University and in the community. The University Counseling Center (442-5800) and the Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center (CVSVC) offer counseling services (free of charge) to help put emotions into perspective, and to help you in your own healing process. The CVSVC also offers a 24-hour hotline (447-7716) that is staffed by trained volunteers.

    It is important to seek support for yourself after experiencing something as traumatic as sexual assault. Talking to a friend, RA, or anyone you feel comfortable with can be an important step towards healing. Another resource is the University's Middle Earth Crisis Hotline (442-5777), which is open when classes are in session, and is staffed by trained undergraduates.

  3. Consider reporting the incident

    Reports to University Administration: After a sexual assault, you can choose whether to release your name to the Office of the Vice President for Student Sucess (OVPSS). To release your name you may give a University staff member permission to share your name with the OVPSS or you can call the OVPSS directly at 956-8140. The OVPSS can offer you support and timely information about resources, accommodations and University and community services. In addition, the OVPSS can contact selected University offices for you to help ease your access to services you may want and to spare you from having to retell your experience repeatedly. However, the OVPSS will only share your name with other University staff on a strictly need to know basis. If you are unsure about whether to release your name, you can discuss this issue confidentially with a counselor at the Sexual Assault Resource Center (442-5800) or at the University Counseling Center (442-5800). Please note that talking to a representative from the Vice President's Office does not obligate you to cooperate with pressing criminal or judicial charges against the assailant though you are welcome to do so if you wish.

    Reports to University judicial system: One way to press charges is to file a complaint through the University judicial system. If found guilty at a judicial hearing, the assailant can face suspension or dismissal from the University. You can contact the Office of Conflict Resolution and Civic Responsibility (442-5501) to discuss options and to assess your best course of action for pressing charges.

    Reports to police: Forcing sexual acts on others and/or initiating sexual acts with mentally incapacitated or physically helpless individuals (e.g., an individual passed out from excess alcohol or drug use) is against the law. Whether or not you wish to press charges, you can report the incident to police. Reasons for doing this include:

    • Giving yourself the option of pressing charges later.
    • Having an incident report on file useful in case the same assailant hurts someone else.
    • Makes the police aware of potential danger to other students. If the assault took place on campus, call the University Police Department (UPD) 24-hours a day at 442-3131. If the assault took place off campus, then off campus police have jurisdiction and would accept your report. Call Police in Albany (438-4000), Colonie (783-2744), East Greenbush (479-1212) or Guilderland (356-1501) as appropriate. UPD can assist you in locating the appropriate off-campus authorities.

    Please be aware that if you do wish to press charges, the sooner a report is made and investigated the better the chances of a successful prosecution.

  4. Consider whether you need academic accommodations

    The University wants to encourage you to persist with your academic goals while recognizing that in the short run your ability to study may be disrupted. The OVPSS can assist you by contacting the Dean of Undergraduate Studies for you to let the Dean know that you have experienced a sexual assault and may be in need of extensions for exams and assignments and/or excused absences. The Dean’s Office can then contact your professors for you requesting that they grant you consideration for extensions. Your professors will not know that you have been sexually assaulted unless you choose to tell them. If you decide not to release your name to the OVPSS and you want help obtaining academic extensions, you can contact the Dean’s Office (442-3950) yourself and disclose to them what has occurred. If you are having such difficulty that you may not be able to resume your studies for a long while, you may be eligible for a medical withdrawal. The Dean’s Office or the OVPSS can refer you to appropriate University personnel if you wish to apply for a medical withdrawal.