Confidential vs. Private Reporting
Certain resources are confidential while others are obligated to report incidents
If you believe that you are the victim of sexual misconduct, you have the right to choose one or more of the following actions:
- Pursue criminal charges through local and/or state law enforcement
- Provide information regarding the incident to the Title IX Coordinator or other appropriate, trained college official, and pursue a student conduct case through the Sexual Misconduct Procedures
- Provide information regarding the incident to the Title IX Coordinator or other appropriate, trained college official, but decide not to pursue further action at this time.
- Utilize a confidential resource from the Center for Counseling and Student Development, Health Services, or the College Chaplain who will assist you in gaining access to resources and services
- Delay action until accompanied by an advisor of your choice
- Decline action, with the understanding that you may change your mind in the future. Please be advised that choosing this option may not alleviate the College for its obligation to (1) conduct an investigation, and (2) to stop, prevent, and remedy the effects of the sexual misconduct.
Why is Reporting Important?
Get connected to support services
If you are a survivor of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking, reporting the incident can help you access many services to support you through the healing process, including medical and counseling services, academic and housing accommodations, and assistance in pursuing a complaint on or off-campus, should you wish to do so.
Regain a sense of personal power, control and safety
If you are a survivor, reporting the crime can help you regain a sense of personal power and control and can also help to ensure the safety of other potential victims.
Protect the campus from repeat offenders
Reporting sexual violence is critical to ensuring the survivor’s future safety and the welfare of the college community. Research indicates that, while most men are not rapists, men who commit acts of sexual violence are likely to have committed similar crimes in the past and/or intend to commit similar crimes in the future. According to one researcher, 90% of rapes that occur on college campuses are committed by serial rapists. Reporting helps to protect individuals and communities against these repeat offenders.
Reporting without pursuing a complaint
Reporting an incident of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking does not commit the survivor to pursuing a formal complaint, either on campus or through the criminal justice system.
How to File a Sexual Misconduct Complaint
Students, faculty, staff, administrators and visitors at Siena College who experience any form of sexual misconduct on or off-campus (including Siena-sponsored trips and events) are strongly encouraged to immediately report the incident by contacting one of the following:
Siena College’s Title IX Coordinator, Lois Goland, at 518-782-6673
Siena College’s Department of Public Safety at 518-783-2376
Siena College’s Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Jay Bebb at 518-783-2328
While Complainants are welcome to file a report or complaint at any time, Complainants are encouraged to come forward as soon as possible because a delay in reporting or making a complaint may impact the effectiveness of the investigation. Delays in reporting may impair the college’s ability to investigate due to, but not limited to, fading memories and the availability of witnesses and evidence.
Upon receiving information of a sexual misconduct incident, either the Title IX Coordinator, Public Safety Investigators, a Deputy Coordinator or a combination of these individuals will meet with the Complainant, Respondent, and/or reporting witness, and conduct an investigation (interview parties, take or receive statements).
If the reporting witness or Complainant chooses to pursue action under this policy, s/he shall make a written statement (which can be either written by the Complainant or dictated and ascribed to) regarding the sexual misconduct complaint.
Complainants and Respondents may use an advisor of their choice (including legal counsel) at each point in the sexual misconduct procedure. The advisor may serve only in an advisory role and may not directly represent either party.
A reporting witness or Complainant may choose to withdraw a complaint and/or involvement from the college process at any time. Please be advised that choosing to do so may not alleviate the College from its obligation to (1) conduct an investigation, and (2) to stop, prevent, and remedy the effects of the sexual misconduct.
Reporting to Law Enforcement
We encourage you to report incidents of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking to the local and/or state police, as well as to college personnel.
If you wish, a Siena College staff person will accompany you and assist you in filing a report with the police. You may choose to pursue disciplinary action through the College while criminal action is pending.
Anonymous Reporting
You may anonymously disclose a sexual misconduct incident to Public Safety.
The College may have a duty to investigate anonymous disclosures to the extent possible, based on the information provided.
Reporting Retaliation
Individuals may file a complaint with the Title IX Coordinator if they have been retaliated against for reporting sexual misconduct, assisting someone in making such a report, or participating in any manner in an investigation or resolution of a sexual misconduct complaint.
All retaliation complaints will be investigated in accordance with the investigation procedures set forth in this policy and individuals who have been found to have engaged in retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action through the student code of conduct or employee disciplinary procedures.