Cuomo announces training program to prevent sexual assault on college campuses

New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced a training program for students, faculty and staff at all State University of New York campuses — including SUNY-ESF — to help prevent sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking.

The program, which is a partnership between SUNY and the New York State Department of Health, will train campus community members to safely intervene before, during and after those types of incidents, according to a release from Cuomo’s office. SUNY faculty and staff will then be certified to implement other bystander training programs.

“If we are to truly put an end to these very serious crimes,” Cuomo said in the release, “New Yorkers must not only understand how to protect themselves, but also know how to help when others are in danger.”

The program is the latest addition to Cuomo’s “Enough is Enough” campaign, which aims to reduce sexual assault on college campuses in New York state.

Signed into law in July, “Enough is Enough” applies to all colleges and universities in New York state. It was originally expected to include only colleges within the SUNY system. Cuomo announced the expansion of the law to Syracuse University and 10 other private schools in the state when he visited SU last spring.

The law provides a statewide definition of affirmative consent, defining it as “a clear, unambiguous and voluntary agreement between the participants to engage in specific sexual activity.”

The law also requires that students who report incidents of sexual assault be granted amnesty for campus violations — such as the use of alcohol or drugs. Schools are also required to include the distribution of a bill of rights to students so they know they can report incidents of assault to law enforcement. Under the law administrators, staff and students must also receive comprehensive training.

The SUNY bystander training programs will be funded by an existing $496,000 federal grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Rape Prevention and Education Program, according to the release.

All SUNY colleges can participate in the programs at no cost, according to the release.

SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher said in the release: “Through these training programs, we will provide students, faculty, and staff with new insight into how to recognize an incident of violence before it occurs and teach them a few actions they can take that may prevent it from happening.”