Senator Parker Helps to Combat Sexual Assault on College Campuses

FROM THE OFFICE OF STATE SENATOR KEVIN PARKER (D-Brooklyn)

Contact: Kassandra Mayhew | mayhew@nysenate.gov | 718-629-6401 | 718-629-6420 fax

For Immediate Release March 16, 2015

Senator Parker Helps to Combat Sexual Assault on College Campuses

Brooklyn, NY – In light of the alarming increase of sexual assaults on college campuses across the country, State Senator Kevin Parker (SD21) has introduced legislation to protect students at both the State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) campuses. “I introduced the campus sexual assault bill to spur systematic change in how SUNY and CUNY campuses handle sexual assault incidents to better protect our students,” stated the seven-term lawmaker.

A staunch supporter of women's rights since he was first elected to office in 2002, Senator Parker has introduced Senate Bill S.1772, that establishes a more comprehensive, anonymous, and transparent approach to combating on-campus assaults than any other piece of legislation in the State. Some of the bill’s main provisions include:

• requiring that the president or administrative officer of each SUNY and CUNY institution appoint or designate an employee that meets certain education qualifications and complies with Title IX and XX;

• establishing the creation of a database cataloguing incidents, status, and disposition of sexual assault incidents;  

• requiring that such data be available on the institution’s web page through an active link during the time students apply to colleges every year;

• requiring the Chancellor of SUNY and the Chancellor of CUNY to develop an anonymous and standardized survey of on-campus sexual assault incidents; and

• with the exception of funds allocated to student services and faculty salaries, failure to comply with the aforementioned provisions will result in the suspension of state provided administrative and operations funds.

According to the New York State Office of Domestic and Sexual Violence and the New York State Office of Victim Services, nearly 89 percent of women in college experience physical or sexual aggression at least once. Additionally, The New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault finds that one in four college women will be sexually assaulted and that almost 80 percent of these assaults are committed by someone the victim knew.

“The strict implementation of an easily accessible sexual assault database, anonymous surveys, and qualified employees to aid those assaulted on SUNY and CUNY campuses are crucial steps toward making our university system safer for all our students,” said the Brooklyn lawmaker (D-Brooklyn).

Beyond addressing sexual assaults on campuses, Senator Parker has introduced various bills regarding the rights of domestic violence victims. Some notable legislation includes:

• Hospital Screening for Domestic Violence - S.1067

• Requiring wireless telephone companies to release victims of domestic violence from "family plans" without penalty - S.1406

• Domestic Violence Act to release defendants under protective conditions - including GPS monitor - S. 1413

• Domestic violence Act preventing perpetrators of domestic violence from purchasing guns - S.1493

• Creates a State Commission on Intimate Partner Violence - S.1730

• Authorizing the victims of domestic violence to apply for the removal of perpetrators name from co-owned real property - S. 1771

• Creation of an independent review board to investigate deaths where domestic violence is apparent - S. 1925

As a crusader for victims’ rights, and an illustrator of precise methods to combat violence on campuses and in homes, Senator Parker is a champion of the movement to eradicate violence perpetuated in part by a lack of enforcement on the part of government. “With more comprehensive information on sexual assaults, thoughtful and direct solutions will manifest to develop sound public policy,” concluded the Brooklyn lawmaker.

About Senator Kevin Parker

Senator Kevin S. Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of his ethnically diverse Brooklyn community that consists of 318,000 constituents in Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, and Park Slope. He is the Assistant Democratic Leader for Intergovernmental Affairs, Ranking Member of the Senate Committees on Energy and Telecommunications Committee and Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, and Chair of the Democratic Task Force on New Americans.

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