Sexual Assault

If you have been hurt by an acquaintance, partner, family member or stranger, it was not your fault. The SUNY Niagara Wellness Center, 716-614-6275 provides free and confidential services to SUNY Niagara students who have been hurt by sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking. If you are on campus the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier 24/7 Rape Crisis/Domestic Violence hotline 716-433-6716 also provides free and confidential services for persons hurt by sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking. Below you will find information about sexual assault and services available for students.

All of the information below is available in a PDF download, click here.

If you are a Male survivor or identify as LGBTQ we have additional resource pages that may be helpful:

Click here for Male survivors Click here for LGBTQ

If you have been sexually assaulted

Tell a person who will support you and/or contact the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier 24/7 Rape Crisis/Domestic Violence hotline at 716-433-6716, who will dispatch an advocate to the College or your housing to assist you. If you’d rather text, please text 716-870-9726.
https://ywcaniagarafrontier.org/

The SUNY Niagara Wellness Center provides assistance for SUNY Niagara students who are survivors of violence. We can answer questions, offer emotional support, and provide referrals. You can also make an appointment with a counselor by visiting the Wellness Center, located in the Science Building (C-Building), room C-122, or calling us at 716-614-6275. View the current schedule for counselors.

For 24-hour assistance, the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier provides a 24/7 Rape Crisis/Domestic Violence helpline for survivors of sexual assault and relationship violence (1-716-433-6716). The helpline can answer questions, provide referrals, or send a victim advocate to meet with you. Both services are free and confidential. We highly encourage survivors to contact an advocate.

Have your medical needs attended to in the emergency room. Taking care of your physical and medical state can play an important role in healing. You may have internal and/or external injuries as a result of the assault requiring medical care. Additionally, you may want to explore options for preventing sexually transmitted infections/disease (STI/STD) and/or pregnancy. Emergency contraception (EC) is available at area pharmacies — while it is over the counter and does not require a prescription, you will have to ask the pharmacist to obtain EC.

There is no “right” place to go for medical attention after an assault. Seek the services that best match your needs and comfort level—your own health care practitioner, a staff member at the SUNY Niagara Wellness Center, or your local emergency room. If you are a housing student, the closest hospital is Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport; it offers 24-hour coverage with specially trained nurses who will explain the options for having a sexual assault exam with collection of evidence, along with 24-hour coverage for an advocate to provide you with follow-up information and referrals. You have the right to decline services if you do not want an advocate or the collection of evidence.

Contact Hospitals:

• DeGraff Memorial Hospital
  5300 Military Rd, North Tonawanda, NY 14120
  (716) 694-4500
• Mt. St. Mary’s Hospital
  5300 Military Rd, Lewiston, NY 14092
  (716) 297-4800

Things to know about the SAEC exam:

Contact Information: YWCA of the Niagara Frontier 24/7 Rape Crisis/Domestic Violence hotline staff is specially trained to identify and respond to the medical needs of sexual assault survivors. The Wellness Center can help connect you with an advocate to support you in your choices.

Contact Information
YWCA of the Niagara Frontier 24-hour Rape Crisis/Domestic Violence Hotline
https://www.ywcaniagarafrontier.org
Phone: 716-433-6716
Text: 716-870-9726

Not everyone is comfortable using the criminal justice system or campus disciplinary process to respond to a sexual assault. It is your decision whether or not to take judicial or legal action against the perpetrator. We encourage you to seek the support system that feels most appropriate and helpful. Students have the right to pursue criminal charges and/or disciplinary action through the student conduct process.

For more information on the student conduct process, please contact:

• Office of the Vice President for Student Services: 716-614-6240
• SUNY Niagara Public Safety Department: 716-614-6400
• Title IX Officer: 716-614-5951 (employees) or 716-614-6240 (students)

To file a criminal complaint:

• Assaults that occurred on-campus: report to Public Safety Department 716-614-6400
• Assaults off-campus: contact local law enforcement (call 911) or Niagara County Sheriff’s Office 716-438-3393

To pursue campus disciplinary action (on- or off-campus):

• Public Safety Department: 716-614-6400
• Office of the Vice President for Student Services: 716-614-6240
• Residence Life: 716-731-8850
• Title IX Officer: 716-614-5951

For resources on the difference between criminal and college disciplinary processes: https://system.suny.edu/sexual-violence-prevention-workgroup/College-and-Criminal-Resource/

To access more reporting information, look up SAVR at: https://www.suny.edu/violence-response/

Additional Contact Information:

• Public Safety Department
  G-Building – G-106
  716-614-6400
  Email: publicsafety@niagaracc.suny.edu
• Office of the Vice President for Student Services
  2nd Floor, A Building – A-172
  716-614-6240
• Title IX Officer
  2nd Floor, A Building – A-264
  716-614-5951
• Niagara County Sheriff’s Office
  5526 Niagara Street Ext, Lockport, NY
  716-438-3388
  https://www.niagarasheriff.com

Things to know about filing a police report:
When the police arrive, they will assess your medical needs first to determine if you should go to the hospital. They will also interview you about what happened in a private setting, and you may request to have a friend or supportive person present. YWCA advocates are available to be with you during the interview. The police will gather information and investigate the case. Once complete, the case is referred to the District Attorney’s Office, which will decide on prosecution based on available evidence. A decision not to prosecute does not mean the assault didn’t occur—it may reflect insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.

Anonymous Sexual Assault Report (ASA):
If you do not wish to file a police or College incident report, you can file an anonymous sexual assault (ASA) report with SUNY Niagara Public Safety. This report helps collect data to improve survivor response. You can find the report by clicking here. (Link part of original page.)

Confidential Reporting Options:
To report confidentially (no investigation or institutional notification), students may go to the Wellness Center or call the YWCA 24/7 Hotline. Note: Campus Security, Student Services, and Residence Life staff are mandatory reporters, and incidents are documented to ensure proper protocol.

Counseling Services:
Counselors at the SUNY Niagara Wellness Center (C-122) offer free and confidential mental health services. You can view their current schedule or receive support through the YWCA Hotline at 716-433-6716, which also provides free and confidential services.

After an assault, you may need to change your housing or academic schedule. Contact:

Residence Life: 716-731-8850

Vice President for Student Services (x 6240)

If you are not sure how to think about what happened

Sex should feel good, mutual, intimate. When it doesn’t, people sometimes don’t know how to define it. When the experience falls on the coercion/abuse side of the continuum, people are reluctant to call it rape or sexual violence unless it happened on a dark street with a stranger. If you feel bad, taken advantage of or abused, you should take these feelings seriously—even if you don’t know what label to put on the experience.

Confusion is a common response to an unexpected event. You did not intend or expect the situation to end with you feeling uncomfortable, bad, or taken advantage of. It may take some time to process the unexpected, and possibly violent, turn of events. Accept your confusion as natural and pay attention to your other feelings and responses.

Many people minimize both the significance of the event and the strength of their emotional response when something bad happens to them. In a way, this can be an adaptive strategy, but it can also make it more difficult to deal with what happened. Be careful not to dismiss your feelings of discomfort too quickly.

You may also be concerned that your decisions and actions contributed to the bad outcome and worry that it’s your fault. You are right in taking responsibility for your own decisions and actions, but you are not responsible for the actions of the other person, nor are you in any way “deserving” of what happened to you.

If in your gut you feel that something “bad” or “wrong” happened—and that you feel uncomfortable, hurt, angry, etc.—then you need to take this gut awareness seriously.

It is a fallacy that people over-report sexual assault. In fact, it is one of the most under-reported crimes.

The Wellness Center counselors or a YWCA Rape Crisis/Domestic Violence advocate can assist students who want to process their thoughts and feelings so they can fully deal with what happened. They can answer questions, be someone to talk to, offer emotional support, and provide referrals. All services are free and confidential.

Defining Sexual Assault / Rape

Legal Definition:

• The New York State Penal Code broadly defines sexual assault as engaging in sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral, anal) with another person without such person’s consent.
• The Student Code of Conduct defines sexual assault as:
  “Forced sexual acts or any sexual contact against one’s will as defined in NYS Penal Law section 130.00(3).”

Institutional Response:

• SUNY Niagara does not condone any form of sexual assault committed by any member of the College community.
• Where there is probable cause that campus regulations prohibiting sexual assault have been violated, the College will pursue strong disciplinary action, which may include suspension or dismissal.

Dual Accountability:

• A student charged with sexual assault may face criminal prosecution under New York State law and disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct.
• Even if criminal authorities opt not to prosecute, the College reserves the right to pursue disciplinary measures internally.

Fairness & Support:

• In sexual assault cases, SUNY Niagara strives to ensure fairness and provide support for all involved—especially survivors.
• Students with questions about procedures or protections are encouraged to contact the Office of the Vice President for Student Services and/or the Public Safety Department, and to utilize counseling services offered through the Wellness Center.

Definition of Consent:

• Consent is defined as agreement to engage in specific sexual contact, either verbally or through active and willing participation.
• Consent cannot be given if one is incapacitated or impaired—due to a physical or mental condition, drugs, alcohol—or is under the age of 17.
• Silence, prior or current relationships, or the use of alcohol/drugs do not imply consent.
• The use of force, threat, or physical intimidation is evidence of lack of consent.
• Consent may be revoked at any time, verbally, through physical resistance, or by losing consciousness.
• Failure to stop sexual contact promptly when consent is withdrawn constitutes prohibited non-consensual contact.
• The words “No” or any negative statement or physical gesture indicating a desire to stop are considered a denial of consent.

Sexual assault is any unwanted, coerced, or forced sexual contact or intercourse with someone who does not give or is unable to give consent (e.g. under the influence of alcohol or drugs or asleep). Sexual assault can involve the sexual penetration of a body orifice, but also includes other unwanted sexual contact.

Most survivors will know their perpetrator(s); they may be a friend, current or former partner, classmate, co-worker, or date. Sexual assault can happen to women and men, individuals who are straight, bi-sexual, gay, or lesbian. Alcohol, date rape drugs or other substances may also be involved in the sexual assault.

A common myth is that your assailant will be a stranger that jumps out of the bushes and assaults you. However, it is far more likely that your assailant will be an acquaintance. According to a Department of Justice report, “Ninety percent of college women who are victims of rape or attempted rape know their assailant. The attacker is usually a classmate, friend, boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, or other acquaintance (in that order).” Survivors of sexual assault can be women or men, and sexual assault can occur between individuals of the same sex or gender. While more than 90% of survivors are women, men are also sexually assaulted and raped, usually by other men; 98% of men who rape other men identify themselves as heterosexual in consensual sexual relationships.

Observe how the environment around you is changing (such as your being left at a party by your friends when you do not know how you will get home). Adapted from Bowling Green State College’s Coalition Against Sexual Offenses

YWCA of the Niagara Frontier 24/7 Rape Crisis/Domestic Violence advocates and the Wellness Center counselors provide survivors (and individuals assisting survivors) with emotional support, someone to talk to, and referrals for medical and legal options; in a setting that is non-judgmental. Services are free and confidential. If you are assisting a survivor and need help please contact the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier 24/7 Rape Crisis/Domestic Violence Hotline or a SUNY Niagara Wellness Center counselor. Assisting someone who is coping with the aftermath of sexual assault can be a very difficult and confusing process.

The emotional trauma caused by a sexual assault can be severe and long-lasting. You may be affected in many different ways. Although each person is unique, there are some feelings and reactions that most sexual assault survivors experience. It can be helpful for you to know about these responses. You may experience some or all of these symptoms. They may occur immediately, or you may have a delayed reaction weeks or months later. Certain situations, such as seeing the assailant or testifying in court, may intensify the symptoms or cause them to reoccur after a period during which you have been feeling better. Please remember that all of your feelings and reactions are a normal part of recovery and it can help to talk with someone about how you are feeling.

The State University of New York and SUNY Niagara are committed to providing options, support and assistance to victims/survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking to ensure that they can continue to participate in College programs, activities, and employment. All victims/survivors of these crimes and violations, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction, have the following rights, regardless of whether the crime or violation occurs on campus, off campus, or while studying abroad: Options in Brief: Victims/survivors have many options that can be pursued simultaneously, including one or more of the following: