Sarah Lawrence College offers myriad services and resources concerning sexual violence. The College is committed to providing equal access to resources for both Reporting Individuals/Complainants and Respondents. These include counseling services, medical services, victim advocates, volunteer visa and immigration assistance, and volunteer legal assistance. The College also has the ability to institute supportive measures to prevent or minimize contact between a Reporting Individual/Complainant and a Respondent.
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On-Campus Resources & Assistance
The information listed below pertains to resources that the College has the ability to initiate for students involved in incidents of sexual violence.
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Measures for the Individual(s) Involved
Individuals who make a report may be offered supportive measures (changes to academic, living, working, or transportation situations or other applicable arrangements) in order to help ensure safety, prevent retaliation, and avoid an ongoing hostile environment. Individuals may receive these measures regardless of whether they choose to report the crime to law enforcement. Individuals may also receive these measures regardless of their decision to pursue any disciplinary action or the Formal Complaint Process.
Depending on an individual’s needs or the nature of the situation, these supportive measures and accommodations may vary and change. Below is a list of potential accommodations, which may be temporary or permanent, and which may be taken where reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances.
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Measures Involving Notification to the Alleged Individual
- No Contact Order (NCO) Directive
Upon receiving a Preliminary Report, the Title IX Office may issue a No Contact Order to any parties involved, if deemed appropriate, or at the request of the Reporting Individual/ Complainant and/or the Respondent.
A No Contact Order, if issued, will be mutual, and will stipulate that both parties are not allowed to have any contact with each other in person, online, or through third parties on their behalf or what appears to be on their behalf. Additionally, if the parties observe each other in a public place, it shall be the responsibility of the individual who came into the area subsequent to the first individual situated there to leave the area immediately, and without directly contacting or communicating with each other, unless the No Contact Order specifically states otherwise. The College may also establish an appropriate schedule for the parties to access applicable College buildings and property where needed. Restrictions that may arise from No Contact Orders are not sanctions imposed for violations of this Policy, and they may be imposed at any time in the process and without the need for a finding of responsibility or non-responsibility for any Policy violation on the part of any party.
Academic
Types of Potential Supportive Measures
- Rescheduling classes or exams
- Alternative course completion options
- Ability to transfer sections or withdraw without penalty
- Excused absences for class attended (related directly to incident or partaking in any part of the College’s process)
Campus Partners
Dean of Studies Campus Partners
Westlands, 2nd Floor Campus Partners
914.315.2249
Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
deanofstudies@sarahlawrence edu
Individual Professors/DonsHealth & Wellness
Types of Potential Supportive Measures
- Assistance setting up counseling services session
- Emergency counseling services session
- Voluntary medical leave of absence
- Access or referrals to medical services
- Medical transportation/escort
Campus Partners
Health & Wellness Center
Lyles House
914.395.2350
Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
https://www sarahlawrence edu/health-and-wellness/Housing
Types of Potential Supportive Measures
- Relocation of housing assignment
- Options and resources for off-campus housing
Campus Partners
Department of Residential Life
Bates 205
914.315.2575
Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
reslife@sarahlawrence eduOn-Campus Housing
Types of Potential Supportive Measures
- Excused absences for missed work (related directly to incident or partaking in any part of the College’s process)
- Changes to work schedule
Campus Partners
Office of Student Employment
Westlands, 1st Floor
914.395.2570
https://www sarahlawrence edu/financial-aid/student-employment/Housing
Types of Potential Supportive Measures
- Relocation of housing assignment
- Options and resources for off-campus housing
Campus Partners
Department of Residential Life
Bates 205
914.315.2575
Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
reslife@sarahlawrence eduOn-Campus Employment
Types of Potential Supportive Measures
- Excused absences for missed work (related directly to incident or partaking in any part of the College’s process)
- Changes to work schedule
Campus Partners
Office of Student Employment
Westlands, 1st Floor
914.395.2570https://www sarahlawrence edu/financial-aid/student-employment/
Safety and Security
Types of Potential Supportive Measures
- No Contact Order (NCO)
- Persona Non Grata (PNG) Directive
- Medical transportation/escort
- Safety-related plans and strategies for off campus
Campus Partners
Office of Campus Safety
Swinford Annex
914.395.2222 (Emergency)
914.395.2209 (Nonemergency) - Community Safety Assessment
A community safety assessment is a process conducted by the Office of Campus Safety to determine if a student, such as the Respondent who is the subject of a report alleging a violation of this Policy, may be a danger to the Reporting Party and/or members of the College community. Typically, a campus safety assessment regarding sexual violence will consider whether the Respondent or another person may be a danger to the Reporting Individual/Complainant or to the College community. While this process may be utilized in relation to alleged incidents of sexual violence, it is also utilized by the College in other incidents pertaining to the safety of individual students and the community.
The Title IX Office, in consultation with such others as deemed appropriate, will determine if a campus safety assessment should occur upon receipt of a report of sexual violence. If it is determined as a result of the assessment that the Respondent or other person may be a danger to the Reporting Individual/Complainant or the community, the Title IX coordinator, in consultation with such others as the coordinator may consider appropriate, will take appropriate action to address and limit the perceived danger. Such action can include, but is not limited to, removing the Respondent or other person from campus immediately, or restricting access to portions of the campus or to one or more campus activities.
Additional supportive restrictions may be determined by the Title IX coordinator or the dean of studies and student life based on the needs and interests of the campus community. Restrictions that may arise from this assessment process are not sanctions imposed for violations of this Policy, and they may be imposed at any time in the process, and without the need for a finding of responsibility or non-responsibility for any Policy violation on the part of any party.
- Persona Non Grata (PNG) Directive
Upon receiving a Preliminary Report in which the alleged individual is not affiliated with the College, the Title IX Office may issue a persona non grata (PNG) directive at the request of the Reporting Individual/Complainant.
A persona non grata directive stipulates that the alleged non-SLC affiliated individual is an unwelcome person to the College and is prohibited from being on College grounds or at any College-sponsored event. If a violation of the PNG directive is made, the recipient of the directive may be removed by Campus Safety or arrested by local law enforcement.
The Title IX Office evaluates the need for the PNG directive after receiving information from a Reporting Individual/Complainant. Such considerations for the directive include, but are not limited to, concern for a Reporting Individual’s/Complainant’s safety and well-being, concern for the safety and well-being of the College community, or previous incidents in which the alleged individual has made themselves known to the College.
- No Contact Order (NCO) Directive
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Off-Campus Resources & Assistance
The information listed below pertains to resources off campus that students involved in incidents of sexual violence may wish to consider. All resources are completely independent entities from the College.
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Advocacy Resources
Below is a list of free off-campus advocacy resources:
Resource: Hotlines
Contact Information
RAINN: Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network
800.656.HOPE
NY State College Campus Sexual Assault Hotline
844.845.7269
NY State Domestic Violence Hotline:
800.942.6906
NYC Hotline: 1.800.621.4673 (HOPE)
Description of Services: All hotlines provide 24-hour (7 days/week) crisis counseling and information regarding sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Survivors and friends of survivors can call. Note: The hotlines can also provide information on local hospitals, such as what hospitals will have a victim advocate or SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) available.
Resource: WestCOP Victims Assistance Services (VAS)Contact Information
2 Westchester Plaza
Elmsford, NY 10523
914.345.3113
https://westcop org/programs/vas/
VAS Toll-Free Helpline: 914.827.2255
Local Westchester Hotline: 914.345.9111
Description of Services: Provides free, comprehensive, and compassionate services to crime victims and their families, friends, and loved ones. Those eligible to utilize VAS include: any adult,teen, or child affected, directly or indirectly, by domestic or dating violence, rape or sexual assault, stalking, homicide or DWI, elder abuse, child abuse, physical assault, bullying (including cyber-bullying), harassment and hate crimes, sex and/or labor trafficking, physical assault, burglary, identity theft, and other crimes.
Resource: My Sister’s Place
Contact Information
3 Barker Ave.
White Plains, NY 10601
914.683.1333
https://mspny org/
My Sister’s Place 24/7 Hotline: 800.298.7233 (SAFE)
Description of Services: Provides comprehensive services on domestic violence and human trafficking for victims and survivors. They offer legal services, confidential local emergency shelter, counseling, safety planning for adults and children, and accompaniment to court.
Resource: NYC Anti-Violence Project
Contact Information
116 Nassau St., 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10038
212.714.1184
https://avp org/
AVP Hotline: 212.714.1141
Description of Services: Provides resources for lesbian, gay, transgender,bisexual, and HIV-affected survivors and victims affected by violence.
Resource: Hope’s Door
Contact Information
Main Office: 50 Broadway
Hawthorne, NY 10532
914.747.0828
Hope’s Door Family Justice Center
County Courthouse
111 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
914.995.3100
https://hopesdoorny org/
Hope’s Door 24/7 Hotline: 888.438.8700
Description of Services: Prevents, responds to, and partners to end domestic and intimate partner violence and other forms of abuse. They also offer confidential emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy, and legal services for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.- Seeking Confidential Medical Services
Experiencing any form of sexual violence is difficult and overwhelming. Regardless of whether the individual chooses to report the incident, the College strongly encourages survivors of any form of violence to seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if they feel no injury was sustained.
Medical assistance providers can treat visible physical injuries and identify injuries that may not be visible, and, where appropriate, also address concerns regarding sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, and provide emergency contraception (if requested). In addition, a hospital can test for the presence of alcohol or drugs (e.g., Rohypnol or other “date rape” drugs) and perform a rape evidence collection procedure, which are also strongly recommended to preserve all legal remedies. Such services are also confidential resources and are not obligated to disclose reports of sexual misconduct to the Title IX coordinator for the College (under any circumstance) or law enforcement (except in very limited situations, such as when failure to disclose the information would result in imminent danger to the individual or to others or as otherwise required by law).
Rape evidence collection can be performed through:
Westchester Medical Center
Forensic Acute Care Team (FACT) ProgramThis program is available 24/7, provides medical and/or forensic evidence collection evaluations free of charge, and offers counseling and advocate services. The program is available to individuals of all ages in which the incident occurred within the past 96 hours, or if the individual is reporting active symptoms (such as pain, bleeding, or skin injury).
If the incident is reported to the College or the Title IX Office, transportation to Westchester Medical Center may be provided by SLC Campus Safety.
- Preserving Physical Evidence
Regardless of whether an incident of sexual violence is reported to the police or the College, Sarah Lawrence College strongly encourages individuals who have experienced sexual violence to preserve evidence to the greatest extent possible, as this will best preserve all legal options for them in the future. Additionally, such evidence may be helpful in pursuing a complaint with the College. While the College does not conduct forensic tests for parties involved in a Formal Complaint, results of such tests that have been conducted by law enforcement agencies and medical assistance providers may be submitted as evidence that may be considered in the process, provided they are available at the time of the investigation and proceeding.
Below are suggestions for preserving evidence related to an incident of sexual violence. It is important to keep in mind that each suggestion may not apply in every incident.
General physical evidence preservation suggestions:
- In order to best preserve their legal options in the future, individuals should consider not altering, disposing of, or destroying any physical evidence of sexual violence.
- If there is suspicion that a drink may have been drugged, an individual should inform a medical assistance provider and/or law enforcement as soon as possible so they can attempt to collect possible evidence (e.g., from the drink, through urine, or by blood sample).
- Individuals can preserve evidence of electronic communications by saving them and/or by taking screenshots of text messages, instant messages, social networking pages, or other electronic communications, and by keeping pictures, logs, or copies of documents that relate to the incident and/or perpetrator.
- Even if survivors choose not to make a report with the College, they may consider speaking with law enforcement to preserve evidence. Please note that, as College employees, Campus Safety would have to report the concern to the Title IX Office.
Physical evidence preservation suggestions specific to sexual assault:
- Because some evidence, particularly evidence that may be located on the body, dissipates quickly (within 48–96 hours), individuals who have been sexually assaulted and wish to preserve evidence should go to a hospital or medical facility immediately to seek a medical examination and/or evidence collection.
- An individual who has been sexually assaulted and wishes to preserve evidence should, if possible, not shower, bathe, douche, smoke, brush teeth, eat, drink, use the bathroom, or change clothes or bedding before going to the hospital or seeking medical attention.
- If the individual who has been sexually assaulted decides to change clothes or bedding and wishes to preserve evidence, they should not wash the clothes worn or bedding used during the assault, and should bring them to a hospital, medical facility, or the police in a non- plastic (e.g., paper) bag.
- Seeking Confidential Medical Services
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Legal Resources
- Orders of Protection
Orders of Protection, sometimes called restraining orders, are legally mandated court orders issued by the courts, the District Attorney’s office, and/or the police. The College has no direct role in the process related to the issuance of Orders of Protection. However, individuals have the right to be assisted by the College’s Campus Safety or by other College officials in seeking an Order of Protection. They are also entitled to receive a copy of any Order of Protection or equivalent that may be issued, as promptly as practicable after such order is received by the College, and have an opportunity to meet or speak with a College representative, or other appropriate individual, who can explain the order and answer questions about it, including information about the responsibility of the recipient of the order to stay away from the protected person or persons.
Sarah Lawrence College recognizes Orders of Protection by directing any person who obtains such order to provide a copy to the director of campus safety. An individual who is a protected person under the order may then meet with the director of campus safety to develop a plan to reduce risk of harm while on campus, or while coming to and going from campus. This plan may include, but is not limited to, escorts, special parking arrangements, changes in housing/ academic/campus work arrangements, and other necessary accommodations.
Individuals have the right to receive assistance from Campus Safety when the individual may seek to cause or request an arrest for an alleged violation of an Order of Protection. However, Campus Safety does not possess arrest powers. Therefore, upon request, College Campus Safety staff will call on local law enforcement for this purpose. Nothing in this Policy shall limit or negate current law enforcement jurisdiction and procedures. Visit the New York Courts website for a more comprehensive discussion on Orders of Protection.
- Cases in Which There Is No Order of Protection in Place: Even if there is no Order of Protection in place, the College can still help parties under this Policy with the development and implementation of a plan to reduce risk of harm while on campus, or while coming and going from campus. Please refer to the previous section, “On-Campus Confidential Resources”.
- Orders of Protection
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Sex Offender Registration
The federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act, enacted on October 28, 2000, requires institutions of higher education to issue a statement advising the campus community where law enforcement agency information provided by a state concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained. It also requires sex offenders already required to register in a state to provide notice, as required under state law, to each institution of higher education in that state at which the person is employed, carries on a vocation, volunteers services, or is a student.
Information regarding sexual offenders is available through the New York State Offender Registry at https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/nsor or by calling, toll-free, 1.800.262.3257. Compliance with the provisions of this Policy does not constitute a violation of section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g), commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).
Below is a list of free off-campus legal resources:
Resource: Victims Justice Center (VJC) of Westchester County DA’s Office
Contact Information:
11 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
914.995.3300
https://www westchesterda net/victim-
services/victims-justice-center
Description of Services: Assists victims in filing applications to the New York State Office of Victim Services for reimbursement for fees associated with things such as crime scene
cleanup costs, funeral expenses, or other financial losses experienced as a result of a crime against them. They also make referrals to other community organizations/service providers and counseling.
Resource: Pace Law School Women’s Justice Center
Contact Information:
78 N. Broadway
White Plains, NY 10603
914.422.4628
https://law.pace.edu/wjc
Legal Helpline:
914.278.0739
Description of Services: Provides legal assistance for all individuals who experience sexual assault, domestic violence, and elder abuse regardless of sex or gender. Services also include a free walk-in clinic.
Resource: Hudson Valley Justice Center
Contact Information:
30 South Broadway, 6th Floor, Yonkers, NY 10701
914.308.3490
www.HVJC.org
Description of Services: Provides free legal services to the immigrant community with various civil legal issues, including housing, immigration, and wage theft.
Resource: New York City Alliance AgainstSexual Assault
Contact Information:
32 Broadway, Suite #1101
New York, NY 10004
212.229.0345 x326
http://www svfreenyc org/alliance-legal-services-program
Description of Services: Provides services for survivors and victims of sexual assault through the Alliance Legal Services Program. Can offer consultation, representation, and referrals for criminal justice, victim compensation, visa/immigration needs, family law issues, and Title IX-related concerns.