News
June 17, 2015Sage Applauds Agreement on Legislation to Combat Sexual Assaults
ALBANY & TROY, NY – The Sage Colleges is pleased to endorse the “Enough is Enough” legislation which will provide for uniform prevention and response policies relating to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking on all college campuses in New York State.
“The Sage Colleges supports passage of this legislation and remains fully committed to providing a safe environment for its students to live and learn,” exclaimed Trish Cellemme, vice president for student life. “Sage has already implemented many of the key elements contained in this legislation and will act swiftly to adopt the additional requirements to further safeguard the members of our campus community. As an added safety measure, Sage will provide all of its full-time undergraduate students with a personal safety device that directly connects them to our Public Safety Office with the push of a button. Continuing to educate our community about the prevention of sexual violence in all forms will also remain a top priority.”
The legislation to combat sexual assault on campuses includes:
- A statewide definition of affirmative consent, defining consent as a knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity;
- A statewide amnesty policy, to ensure that students reporting incidents of sexual assault or other sexual violence are granted immunity for certain campus policy violations, such as drug and alcohol use;
- A Students’ Bill of Rights, which campuses will be required to distribute to all students in order to specifically inform sexual violence victims of their legal rights and how they may access appropriate resources. The Bill of Rights clearly states that students are given the right to know they can report sexual assaults to outside law enforcement, including the State Police;
- Comprehensive training requirements for administrators, staff, and students, including at new student orientations;
- Reporting requirements for campuses to annually submit aggregate data on reported incidents of sexual violence and their adjudication and handling to the State Education Department;
- A new unit within the State Police called the “sexual assault victims unit” specialized in advanced training in responding to sexual assaults and related crimes that shall also provide assistance to campus police or local law enforcement, as well as training to college campus communities;
- A requirement for first responders to notify survivors of their right to contact outside law enforcement.
Media Contact:Deanna Cohen, director of external relations, The Sage Colleges (518) 244-4593 (O), (518) 598-4927 (C), email: cohend2@sage.edu
ABOUT SAGE Interdisciplinary academics, combining the professions and the liberal arts, community engagement, international exposure, and artistic and athletic endeavors are among the pillars of the educational experience at The Sage Colleges. Sage enrolls more than 3,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs at the undergraduate Russell Sage College for women in Troy, N.Y.; the coeducational undergraduate Sage College of Albany in Albany, N.Y.; and the graduate-level Esteves School of Education, School of Health Sciences and School of Management, with programs on both campuses; adult education through the School of Professional and Continuing Education and via the Internet through Russell Sage Online.
