Reporting Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and Stalking
If a member of the campus community is a victim of a sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking on campus, his/her first priority is to get to a place of safety. It is his/her choice to report any acts of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. If he/she wants their assailant to be held criminally accountable for the attack/unwanted sexual contact, call 911 immediately to report what occurred. If the victim, hereafter referred to as a reporting individual, desires assistance in making the call, he/she can request help from a campus representative. The police may request a medical evidentiary exam.
A reporting individual may choose to report the assault and then later choose not to pursue the criminal case. If the reporting individual chooses not to report the assault immediately, he/she may still do so at a later time; however, there may be less physical evidence against the attacker if reported at a later time.
Preserving Evidence
Time is a critical factor for evidence collection and preservation. To preserve evidence of the assault:
- Obtain necessary medical treatment.
- Ideally a survivor (reporting individual) of sexual assault should not wash, douche, brush teeth, use the toilet, or change clothing prior to a medical exam.
- Do not straighten up the area where the assault took place.
- The reporting individual should keep a journal of everything that occurred, including dates, places and times of events.
- When the communication is electronic, he/she should save any voicemails, e-mails, texts and instant messages.
(If the reporting individual has already cleaned up from the assault, the crime can still be reported and the police will take a report to investigate.)
Options for Confidentially Disclosing Sexual Violence Policy:
- To confidentially disclose an incident to one of the following college officials, who by law may maintain confidentiality, and can assist in obtaining services:
- Counseling Office, Floor LL, Room 020, x6790, (646) 564-6790.
- To disclose the incident to one of the following Alliance University officials who can offer privacy and can provide information about remedies, accommodations, evidence preservation, and how to obtain resources. Those officials will also provide the information contained in the Students’ Bill of Rights, including the right to choose when and where to report, to be protected by Alliance University from retaliation, and to receive assistance and resources from Alliance University. These Alliance University officials will disclose that they are private and not confidential resources and they may still be required by law and Alliance University policy to inform one or more Alliance University officials about the incident, including but not limited to the Title IX Coordinator. They will notify reporting individuals that the criminal justice process uses different standards of proof and evidence than internal procedures, and questions about the penal law or the criminal process should be directed to law enforcement or the district attorney.
- To file a report of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking, and/or talk to the Title IX Coordinator for information and assistance. Reports will be investigated in accordance with Alliance University policy and the reporting individual’s identity shall remain private at all times if said reporting individual wishes to maintain privacy.
- Director of Human Resources/Title IX Coordinator, Floor 17, Room 1727, x6121 or (646) 678-6121
- VP and Dean of Students, Floor 20, Room 2033, x 6194 or (646) 378-6194
- Graduate Academic Deans
- Residence Hall Directors:
- Residence Life Professional Staff On Duty Phone (845) 213-9145
- Athletic Director/Coach, Bowman Gym, x6760 or (646) 564-6760
- Campus Safety
- Manhattan at x6198 or (646) 378-6198
- The Bay at Jersey City at (845) 222-8812.
- Director of Auxiliary Services, Floor 17, Room 1724, x6185 or (646) 378-6185
- To disclose confidentially the incident and obtain services from New York State presented in several languages: http://www.opdv.ny.gov/help/index.html (or by calling 1-800-942-6906), and assistance can also be obtained through:
(Note that these hotlines are for crisis intervention, resources, and referrals, and are not reporting mechanisms, meaning that disclosure on a call to a hotline does not provide any information to the campus. Reporting individuals are encouraged to additionally contact a campus confidential or private resource so that the campus can take appropriate action in these cases).
- To file a criminal complaint with local law enforcement:
Jersey City:
- Jersey City Police Department, (201) 547-7207, 7th St 2nd floor, Jersey City, NJ 07302, or if emergency, dial 911.
- New Jersey S.A.V.A. (Sexual Assault Victim Assistance) (201) 915-1234
NYC:
- NYPD Special Victims Division (646) 610-7272
Graduate/Seminary
- Graduate/Seminary students may file a report of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking with the Title IX Coordinator who will provide information and assistance. Reports will be investigated in accordance with Alliance University policy.
- Title IX Coordinator, Floor 17, Room 1727, (646) 378-6121, karen.davie@allianceu.edu.
- State police 24-hour hotline to report sexual assault on a NY college campus: 1-844-845-7269
- You may withdraw your complaint or involvement from the Alliance University process at any time.
Alliance University shall ensure that, at a minimum, at the first instance of disclosure by a reporting individual to a college representative, the following information shall be presented to the reporting individual: “You have the right to make a report to Campus Safety, local law enforcement, and/or State Police or choose not to report; to report the incident to Alliance University; to be protected by Alliance University from retaliation for reporting an incident; and to receive assistance and resources from Alliance University
