Three area schools are among 11-private colleges and universities now supporting Governor Cuomo's proposal for sexual assaults on campus. The Governor's bill calls for a uniform protocol in preventing and responding to assaults at all campuses in the state. WBFO'S Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley spoke with two local college officials about support of the bill.
"We're very, very concerned about this and are doing a lot of education and programming for students," said Terri Mangione, Vice President of Student Affairs and Title IX Coordinator at Canisius College.
The bill would require colleges and universities to implement measures already in place at SUNY schools. It would require victims be informed of their right to report to campus police or local police.
Mangione said Canisius already follows that standard.
"We've always had an MOU with the Buffalo Police Department," stated Mangione.
Daemen College in Amherst is also supporting the legislation. President Gary Olson said his school recently strengthen its reporting rules so students feel safe.
"We've provided very strict and rigors guidelines for behavior and ways to take complaints to proper authorities," stated Olson.
When the Governor appeared at Syracuse University earlier this week to announce support from the 11-schools he stated that too many are denying there is a problem.
"They're afraid it's going to hurt the reputation of the school, hurt the number of people who are attending," said Cuomo.
But both Mangione and Olson responded by saying their schools have always had concern for the issue.
"There are many of my colleagues at private colleges and universities who take offense to the idea that we are not concerned about it or that we are not aware of it because we certainly are aware and we certainly are concerned," noted Mangione.
"I don't think it's quite accurate to say, for example the privates are less concerned about the safety of students. It just doesn't make sense," said Olson.
St. Bonaventure is also supporting the bill. A federal probe launched last year revealed the high rate of campus sex assaults and many that were unreported.
