Sexual Assault and Misconduct

1 is 2 Many PSA: 60 Second

CUNY “Speak Up, Speak Out” PSA – Policy Highlights

CUNY “Speak Up, Speak Out” PSA – Get Involved

End Sexual Assault on Campuses – Guy Talk

Help Prevent Sexual Assaults by Being an Active Bystander

Report all crimes to Public Safety and to the New York City Police. For additional information and resources, please also see: Report An Emergency.

Baruch College

Public Safety
General Contact: 646-660-6000
Emergency: 646-312-3333 or 646-660-3333

Baruch Student Services
General Contact: 646-312-4550

NYPD 13th Precinct

General Contact: 212-477-7411
Emergency: 911

Many attacks start with casual conversation. If your gut-level response to a stranger or friend is uneasiness, try to get out of the situation as quickly as possible, even if it means being rude or making a scene. Acquaintance rape occurs more frequently than reports seem to indicate. The keys to prevention are awareness, trusting your intuition, and assertive behavior. People have deterred assailants in a variety of ways. Talking and thinking about what you might do if attacked increases your chance of defending yourself.

Everyone is a potential victim of sexual assault. The most vulnerable target is a woman alone. While a large number of reported victims are in the 13-25 age bracket, indications are that this is due to an increase in reporting in this age group. Studies do not indicate a preference for the young by sexual assailants, nor do they support the myth that assault is provoked by a woman’s dress or mannerisms. Opportunity and vulnerability are key factors.

A sexual assailant is generally an emotionally unstable person yet conducts his or her day-to-day life reasonably and competently. He or she often has difficulty in relating to others on a permanent or lasting basis. He or she is often a friend, date, relative, co-worker, or casual acquaintance of the victim.

Sexual assault can happen virtually anywhere, but most reported incidents occur in the victim’s home or the home of the offender. It is important to be aware that many areas of daily activity are potentially dangerous. Sexual assault often occurs in conjunction with other crimes such as burglary, so the more common-sense precautions one takes, the less the chance of becoming a victim. Remember: a locked door can give a potential victim adequate time to call the police (911). Remember, too: the victim does not provoke the attack. Sexual assault is a crime of violence and not of sex.

Preventive measures can reduce the risk of attack, but they are not 100 percent effective. Recent studies show that, if you are attacked, an immediate aggressive response will be twice as likely to increase the possibility of escape but can also aggravate the situation. However, submitting does not guarantee that violence will not occur. Look for ways of escape. If one method does not work, try another.

1. Report the crime immediately to the Police by dialing 911 and to Baruch College Public Safety at 646-660-6000
2. Do not disturb any evidence
3. Do not bathe or shower
4. Have a medical examination as soon as possible
5. Report every detail of the attack to the Police Officer
6. When calm, make notes of the attack, including any unusual details and description of the attacker

If you are assaulted at Baruch, call the Public Safety emergency number: 646-312-3333. Security personnel understand that sexual assault victims experience emotional trauma and follow a procedure designed to help the victim. This procedure will include finding out details about the assault, taking action toward detaining the assailant, and informing the victim of services available at Baruch and elsewhere.

Students should report all incidents of sexual assault to the Office of Campus Security and Public Safety at 646-660-6000 and the Office of the Vice-President for Student Development at 646-312-4570. A professional staff member will meet with you confidentially and pursue formal disciplinary action only with your consent. After a complaint is lodged, the Vice-President for Student Development will arrange an investigation and hearing to determine culpability and the appropriate sanctions, if any. Both the accused and the accuser are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during such proceedings. Both the accused and the accuser are informed of the outcome of such proceedings. Anyone may initiate such an action against a Baruch student.

A Baruch student who is found to have committed rape, sexual assault, or any other sexual offense, either forcible or non-forcible, is subject to arrest and disciplinary action, including admonition, deprivation of certain privileges, probation, suspension, or expulsion.

Baruch College seeks to develop ethical and responsible persons through a sound educational program and policies that encourage maturity and independence. The regulations that govern student and employee conduct are formulated with those objectives in view. The U.S. Department of Education has issued regulations that require a college to distribute information annually about the possession, use, or distribution of alcohol and illicit drugs at that college.

The unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs or other controlled substances and the unauthorized use of alcohol by students on campus and College employees at work is prohibited. Student clubs and organizations may petition the Office of Student Life or the Office of the Vice President for Student Development in advance of a planned event for the use of beer or wine at “duly authorized functions.” Organizations must adhere to stringent guidelines that comply with the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law prohibiting the sale, delivery, or providing alcoholic beverages to people under 21. The legal age for drinking alcohol in New York State is 21, and State laws deal harshly with underage drinking.

In addition, organizations granted permission to serve alcoholic beverages must provide adequate supervision for distribution and consumption. Specific details about the “Permit for the Use of Alcoholic Beverages at an Authorized Student Program” may be found in the Compliance Trainings and Resources section of our Safety Policies and Procedures.

Report Alcohol and Drug Use

The Informer available in the Office of Student Life, Room 2-255, at 55 Lexington Avenue.

The possession or use of illegal drugs is a crime in the State of New York. Anyone found in possession of or using such drugs on College property will be dealt with severely and may be suspended from the College, in addition to facing criminal charges and arrest. Any person found to have violated the College’s policy on alcohol and drug use is subject to University officials’ discipline.

No one within the University community, except Peace Officers pursuant to authorization of the College Presidents, shall have in their possession a rifle, shotgun, firearm, or any other dangerous instrument or material that can be used to inflict bodily harm on an individual or damage to a building or the grounds of a campus.

Students are expected to comply with the Rules of Conduct printed in the Undergraduate and the Graduate Bulletins. A student found to violate these rules can be subject to disciplinary actions that may include admonition, warning, censure, disciplinary probation, restitution, suspension, expulsion, or complaint to civil authorities, as stated in full in Baruch College’s Bulletins.

A student experiencing difficulty with alcohol or chemical dependency may seek direct assistance or be referred by members of the institutional staff to the Office of the Vice President for Students or to the appropriate counseling center. The Vice President for Student Development may take disciplinary action or recommend that the student meets with a counselor for assistance through self-help organizations or other outside agencies.

The unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs or other controlled substances and the unauthorized use of alcohol by Baruch College employees in the workplace is prohibited. Employees found in violation of the Standards of Conduct referred to in this policy may be subject to disciplinary action under the applicable union contract provisions. Additionally, sanctions that may be imposed include verified attendance and successful participation in a drug/alcohol assistance program and/or filing criminal charges and arrest.

In compliance with University policy, a Sexual Harassment Panel has been appointed to receive complaints of sexual harassment from faculty, staff, and students. For more information about the Baruch College Sexual Harassment Panel, please contact the Office of Human Resources.

Baruch College provides educational and counseling services to students and employees through the Division of Student Development and Counseling. The address is 55 Lexington Avenue and the contact number is 646-312-2155. A full list of off-campus resources is available in the Counseling Center. Following is a partial list of local resources:

St. Vincent’s Department of Community Medicine Rape Crisis Program
212-604-8068,  Fax 212-604-7627

Bellevue Hospital
27th Street and First Avenue
212-562-4141

New York Police Department Special Victims Squad
212-374-5260

Manhattan District Attorney’s Office Sex Crimes Unit
212-335-9000

The Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains the Sex Offender Registry. Inquiries may be obtained here: https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/SomsSUBDirectory/search_index.jsp