JASON LOUSTAUNAU
Special to The Leader
The frequency in which sexual assault occurs on American college campuses is appalling and enough to warrant a conversation about where to go if you need to file an incident.
According to the website of the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), “13% of all students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence or incapacitation (among all graduate and undergraduate students).” Sexual violence is a serious issue that can affect anybody, but the risk of it happening is significantly higher if you are a woman. RAINN additionally reports that “Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence or incapacitation.”
If someone is a victim of sexual assault, it can’t be overstated that the victim is under no obligation to report the incident. As said by Julie Bezek, the Prevention, Advocacy and Wellness Coordinator (PAWS) from Lograsso Hall’s Counseling Center, “The decision to report or not to report is deeply personal. Survivors should be encouraged to —pursue the option(s) that feel right for them — there is no “right way” or “wrong way” to handle an incident of sexual violence. The best thing friends and family can do for a survivor is support their autonomy to make decisions that are right for them.”
On the topic, University Police Chief Isaacson noted, “I think it’s important to know for context, that in any of these kinds of cases, the victim is really in the driver’s seat.” If somebody wanted to speak out about something that happened, they have total control over what happens next with their experiences.
That said, some students are unaware or uncertain where they can go if they need help. It’s important to understand where resources are so survivors can feel less alone. Survivors can utilize resources on campus to document an incident, but they don’t need to feel any pressure to pursue any recourse or charges.
Additionally, individuals can ask to be anonymous while filing a report. On Fredonia’s campus, students have two options where they can choose to file and follow through with an incident. Students can contact University Police or the Title IX Office if they wish to file a sexual assault incident. The Title IX Office can then filter cases through the Office of Student Affairs.
Currently, the Title IX Coordinator position appears to be unfilled. Until the college fills the position, SUNY Fredonia’s website lists Dr. Vicki Sapp as the person to contact if a student has questions regarding title IX or needs assistance filing a complaint. Sapp can be reached at (716) 673-3358 or in her office in Fenton Hall, room 143.
While University Police can help a student pursue criminal charges, the Title IX Office can help a student pursue university actions against the perpetrator, such as expulsion in extreme circumstances.
Students can use any and all offices to pursue their case. Any of these offices would be more than happy to assist a student, faculty member or anyone otherwise in need of help. If someone is confused and needs a starting point of who they can talk to, they could approach University Police and would be given resources and information that could guide them to what their next step could be. Lieutenant Scott Martin remarks that University Police members are trained in “trauma informed interviewing,” which allows for more emotion in their understanding, and is designed for dealing with victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
University Police and the Title IX Office have slightly different roles with how they work with sexual violence cases. When an incident reaches the Title IX Office, Lisa Newell, the director of student conduct at the Office of Student Affairs notes that, “The Title IX Office would investigate the complaint, interview those involved… and then they would forward the complaint to my office because I assist students in moving things through our university’s student conduct process.” Cases that are filed through University Police can take longer to process, relative to the other offices, as they need a bigger depth of evidence for the District Attorney’s office to secure convictions. As remarked by Martin, “We have to make sure that everything that we can possibly find is there so it can take a little time. Say on average, it’s probably three, four months. But [again], it depends on the circumstances.” If someone is able to report closer to when the incident happens, it can become relatively easier to get the sought after conviction.
Some students on campus have expressed dissatisfaction with how the school has handled filed cases of sexual violence. Previously, SUNY Fredonia students have rallied in outrage when a student was admitted into the school with an alleged trailing past of sexual misconduct before gaining admittance into the school. This led to a protest during the fall 2020 semester.
If students have tried the channels offered on campus and feel unsatisfied with their experiences, there are other resources out there that can help. On SUNY Fredonia’s student conduct webpage, within the University Policy on Sexual Violence Prevention and Response, there is an extensive list of resources that extends beyond campus resources.