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Office of Judicial Affairs

Assault Information

Complaint Process

1. If you experience or observe an incident of sexual discrimination, harassment, violence or exploitation on or off campus, report the incident to:

  • University Police (24/7) at 315-312-5555; University Police Officers have received specialized training to attend to the needs and concerns of victims of sexual offenses and relationship violence. OR
  • Senior Title IX Coordinator, Howard Gordon, at 315-312-2213, howard.gordon@oswego.edu, who is responsible for monitoring overall Title IX implementation for the institution and coordinating compliance within all areas and departments covered under Title IX regulations; OR
  • Title IX Investigator Human Resources Manager, Marta Santiago, at 315-312-2230, marta.santiago@oswego.edu who is responsible for providing information on available options and processes and for investigating the complaint. OR 
  • Assistant Dean of Students for Judicial Affairs, Lisa Evaneski, at 315-312-3378, lisa.evaneski@oswego.edu who will provide information on the campus judicial process.

2. You will be asked to make a written acknowledgement describing (1) the College employee or representative who spoke to or worked with you as well as the date; (2) which options you would like to pursue, if any including the criminal justice system and the student judicial system; and (3) that you received information about resources (medical, counseling, environmental relief).

3. If you file a complaint, you have a right to adequate, reliable and impartial investigation of your complaint, the right to present evidence and witnesses, the right to appeal the conclusions of investigators or hearing officers. If you do not file a complaint, the College is obligated by federal mandate to investigate the incident in order to seek further understanding for the protection of
recurrences.

4. The College will issue a “cease all contact” order to the accused (with a copy to you) that prohibits any contact – personal, written, electronic – by the accused or his/her associates acting on behalf of the accused with or without their knowledge.

5. The College can address conditions in your living, learning or working environment to reduce the level of hostility in your environment, such as room assignment changes, class changes, work location changes, or limits on access for the accused.

6. You will be notified of the time frame within which the College will conduct a full investigation related to the report or complaint.

7. The College will decide outcomes of the complaint, the sanctions imposed upon the accused, and all aspects of the complaint that relate to you and may affect your learning, living or working environment.

8. You will be notified of the outcome of a complaint that you submit and any conditions of the outcome that may affect you.

9. If you or your witnesses are subjected to retaliation (pressure, intimidation, or coercion by the accuser or his/her associates, with or without the accuser’s knowledge), you should immediately report the incident so the College can investigate and take action.

10. You may opt for a voluntary informal method of resolving the complaint (i.e., mediation, alternative dispute resolution, etc.) if the College deems the incident to warrant an informal approach. You may choose to end such informal resolution methods at any time and choose to proceed with formal stages of this complaint process.

Steps To Take If You or a Friend are the Victim of Sexual Assault

  1. It is recommended that you DO NOT:
    • change clothing, comb hair or brush teeth;
    • disturb the area where the crime occurred until medical or police investigation can be accomplished.
  2. If you want to report the crime, notify the police immediately at 312-5555 or call 911. Reporting the crime can help you regain a sense of personal control and can also help to ensure the safety of other potential victims.
  3. Call a friend, family member, or someone else you trust and ask her or him to stay with you.
  4. Preserve all physical evidence of the assault. Do not shower, bathe, douche, or brush your teeth. Save all of the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault and do not wash it. Place each item of clothing in a separate paper bag. Do not use plastic bags. Do not disturb anything in the area where the assault occurred.
  5. Go to a hospital emergency department for medical care and evidence gathering. You or University Police can contact our local Services to Aid Families (SAF) sexual assault advocate to meet you at the hospital emergency room. Even if you think that you do not have any physical injuries, you should still have a medical examination and discuss with a health care provider the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and the possibility of pregnancy resulting from the sexual assault. Walker Health Center can also provide follow up health care and support.
  6. If you suspect that you may have been given a date rape/predatory drug, ask the hospital or clinic where you receive medical care to take a urine sample immediately. Date rape/predatory drugs, such as Rohypnol, GHB, and Ketamine are more likely to be detected in the urine than in the blood.
  7. Write down as much as you can remember about the circumstances of the assault, including a physical description of the assailant.
  8. Talk with a counselor who is trained to assist rape victims about the emotional and physical impacts of the assault. You can contact the Counseling Services Center in Walker Health Center at 315-312-4416 for help and support.

Sexual Assault Resources

University Police: 312-5555
Counseling Services Center: 312-4416
SAF (Services To Aid Families): 342-1600 or 312-7777
Office of Judicial Affairs: 312-3378
Jeanne Clery / Personal Safety Report: http://www.oswego.edu/administration/police/annrep.html
Office of Civil Rights: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintprocess.html

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