If You Think You've Been Sexually Harassed

What to do

If you think you’ve been harassed, tell someone.  It is beneficial to you and to SUNY Cortland for you to report incidents of sexual harassment.  The college has trained people who will listen sympathetically.

Student to student sexual harassment is handled by The Student Conduct Office under the student judicial system policies. You may contact the Student Conduct Office at ext.4725.

People to talk to

Gary Evans
Interim Affirmative Action Officer/Associate Director of Human Resources
Human Resources Office
Miller Building, Room 301
(607) 753-2302
gary.evans@cortland.edu
 
Counseling Center
Van Hoesen Hall, Room B-44
(607) 753-4728
 
EAP
Miller Building, Room 21
(607) 753-5777 Voice Mail
 
Mary Saracene
EAP Coordinator
(607) 753-2523
mary.saracene@cortland.edu
 
Noelle Paley
Director of Multicultural Life and Diversity
Multicultural Life and Diversity Office
Corey Union, Room 407-A
(607) 753-2336
noelle.paley@cortland.edu
 
Residence Life and Housing
Van Hoesen Hall, Room B-33
(607) 753-4724
or
Residence Hall Directors in each residence hall
 
Student Conduct Office
Corey Union, Room 409-B
(607) 753-4725
 
University Police
Van Hoesen Hall, Room C-17
(607) 753-4124
(607) 753-2111 Emergency Calls

What you can do on your own

If you would rather deal with the problem on your own:

• Talk to the offending person honestly and directly, stating that the behavior is offensive and that you want it to stop.
• Keep a record of when and where offenses occur, and write down exactly what happened.
• Talk to friends or others you trust.
• Share your story; get support.

Your rights:

• You control the process of the sexual harassment complaint to the extent possible by law and college policy.
• Upon initial consultation with the Affirmative Action Officer, your options will be explained.
• To the extent practicable, confidentiality will be protected.
• The institution will take appropriate action if retaliation is threatened.
• You are entitled to have someone go through the process with you to provide you with support.

The Informal Process

1.  Talk to the Affirmative Action Officer in confidence.
2.  Tell the Officer how you would like the situation handled.  Some possibilities are:  

• The AA Officer can talk to the person accused and explain why the behavior is unacceptable.
• The AA Officer can help you write a letter to the person accused.
• The AA Officer can suggest supportive counseling for you and/or remedial counseling for the person accused.
• The AA Officer can meet with the person accused and his/her department chair or supervisor to discuss the behavior.
• A letter describing a meeting in which the person accused is prohibited from certain behaviors can be placed in the file of the person accused, with his/her knowledge.

Remember: nothing can happen to the harasser unless you make a complaint.