Reporting a Rape or Sexual Assault

If you want to talk to someone on campus confidentially about rape or sexual assault, there are three resources to which you can go.

  1. Safe Space. Safe Space informs survivors of their options after an assault and offers them an opportunity to share their experiences in a confidential and supportive atmosphere. We offer extended support through the healing process. Safe Space 24-hour beeper: 518-860-7899.
  2. The Counseling Center. Silliman Hall. The Counseling Center offers confidential professional counseling services to Union College students. 518-388-6161.
  3. Religious programs. Silliman Hall. The Reverend Victoria Brooks-McDonald, the Campus Protestant Minister and Interfaith Chaplin, can provide students confidential counseling regardless of religious background. 518-388-6618.

Additionally, there are off-campus confidential resources.

  1. Sexual Assault Support Services confidential hotline (518 346-2266)
  2. Rape Crisis Services (Planned Parenthood) of Schenectady County (518 374-5353)

(confidentiality does not apply in cases of incest or when suicidal or homicidal tendencies are expressed)

A reminder: If you have been assaulted, you may need medical care and supportive counseling. Even if you do not want to press charges, you are encouraged to seek medical attention. Emergency contraception may also be available.

Reporting to the Administration

There are three Deans to whom you can report a rape:

  • Tom McEvoy 518-388-6117 Reamer Campus Center 303
  • Kate Schurick 518-388-6061 Reamer Campus Center 306
  • Trish Williams 518-388-6116 Reamer Campus Center 306

If it is after hours, you may report the professional staff member in the Residence Life office, who can be contacted through Campus Safety at x6911 (518-388-6911)

After reporting an incident to a dean, the survivor may choose to

  • Do nothing and keep the report on file (to be opened later if the survivor chooses)
  • Bring conduct charges.
  • Bring criminal charges through local authorities.

Note: College officials are required, in accordance with New York State law, to promptly report all violent felonies occurring on campus properties to the police. Almost all rapes are violent felonies. This does not mean that survivors of rape are required to talk to police or press charges.

Conduct and criminal charges can be filed at the same time against a student.
If conduct charges are filed:

  • First, the dean meets with the survivor (accuser) to get her/his side of the story
  • Then, the dean meets with the accused
  • The dean may then talk to any other campus community member with knowledge of the case
  • An administrative hearing will then ensue
  • Both the accused and the accuser will be present during the hearing
  • Each party is permitted to bring someone who is
    • A Union College employee or student (it may be a Safe Space member)
    • Not an attorney or parent
  • The accused receives a copy of the report to review (NOT the accuser)
    • Note: This happens in ALL conduct cases due to FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), not just in the instances of sexual assault
  • The accuser is told the outcome of the case, the verdict is revealed usually within seven business days
  • If the accused is found to be responsible for the rape, he or she is generally separated from Union College
  • When a student reports a sexual assault it needs to be reported again to Campus Safety (the dean is able to do this for the accuser)
  • Campus Safety needs to determine if this is a case of a violent felony
    • A violent felony is judged upon the degree of physical force during an assault
  • If a violent felony was committed, it must then be reported to the Schenectady Police under the State of New York’s Lyle Act (requiring schools to report violent felonies to local police authorities)

If one reports to the local police

  • If the survivor reports to the local police, the police then will ask if she/he wants to press criminal charges
  • The survivor may wish to consider asking to speak with the Sex Crimes Prosecutor in the Schenectady District Attorney’s Office
  • If the survivor wishes to press criminal charges, a sex crimes investigator will be brought in and the process of criminal investigation will begin