Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and Assemblymember Daniel Rosenthal Announce New Legislation to Improve the Reporting of Hate Crimes on College Campuses

QUEENS- On Tuesday, September 20^th, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky (D- Queens) and Assemblymember Daniel Rosenthal (D-Queens) were joined by fellow lawmakers and community advocates to announce newly introduced legislation (S. 9552) to improve the reporting and investigating of hate crimes on college campuses. New York’s current statute has not been updated in nearly two decades and do not reflect significant advancements in technology. This legislation will update the current law by requiring all colleges to report bias crimes on their websites and that it be reported in a separate, clearly designated category of crime.

Senate Bill Sponsor Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee: “We must make sure New York’s diverse college campuses are safe spaces for students of all races, ethnicities and creeds. Unfortunately, the recent spread of disgraceful and harmful public rhetoric has led to a disturbing rise in acts of hate across our state and our nation. This legislation will arm students with important crime statistics for the campuses they call home and makes sure these incidents are more clearly identified and easily available. Currently the law talks about college catalogues and student handbooks, which are obsolete, while our proposed legislation requires colleges to put it on their website.  I want to thank Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal for sponsoring this bill in the Assembly.”

Assembly Bill Sponsor Daniel Rosenthal (D- Kew Gardens Hills): "New York continues to a see dangerous rise in hate crimes, including triple digit increases of anti-Semitic attacks. Sadly, college campuses are not the exception to the growing recurrence of these heinous attacks. I am proud to sponsor this important piece of legislation alongside Senator Stavisky which will shed light on the frequency of hate related attacks by requiring public disclosure of offenses motivated by bigotry that occur on college campuses . We must not allow for hate to continue to spread, particularly at places of higher education."

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (who represents Queens College): "With alarming rates of hate on college campuses, students need to feel safe without worrying about antisemitism, racism, and xenophobia. This legislation is a step to curbing hate on campus, and I am proud to support this effort."

Senator John Liu: "As long as hate crimes and bias related incidents continue to impact the lives of New Yorkers, we must be sure that students and faculty on our college campuses are best equipped to respond to these incidents whenever they arise. Making hate crime information publicly accessible and establishing support services on campuses will provide students and faculty a new tool to combat hate and bias in any form. Much thanks to Senator Stavisky and Assemblymember Rosenthal for introducing this important legislation."

Senator Leroy Comrie: "College campuses should be places that cultivate learning and tolerance for all; when there is a potential threat to the efficacy of that through a hate crime or other heinous act on a campus, students, faculty, staff and parents should be able to easily access that information. With hate crimes on the uptick in our city and bomb threats being levied at campuses around our nation, this bill will be a critical tool, to provide data on how resources are allocated on things from law enforcement response to support services in our institutions of higher learning. Our educational spaces should be safe for everyone who attends or visits them and preventative, precautionary and protective measures are more important than ever. I commend Senator Stavisky and Assemblyman Rosenthal for proposing this legislation."

The Asian American Federation: “AAF thanks Senator Stavisky and Assemblymember Rosenthal for sponsoring this legislation. Hate crimes and bias incidents continue to plague the Asian community. This legislation provides a pathway toward transparency, so colleges can respond to hate and violence and make Asian communities on their campuses feel safe.”

The Simon Wiesenthal Center: “The Simon Wiesenthal Center thanks Senator Stavisky and Assemblymember Rosenthal for proposing this important piece of legislation. It is a tragic sign of the times that such legislation is necessary. Earlier this year, CUNY was unable to provide the number of anti-Semitic attacks that had occurred on their campuses. We cannot help solve a situation until we know the extent of the problem. Jews on campus deserve the same protections afforded to other minorities and this legislation is an important step in that direction.”

StandWithUs: "StandWithUs thanks Assemblyman Rosenthal and Senator Stavisky for this important update to the Education Law in NYS. At a time when anti-Semitic hate crimes and hate in general are on the rise, this legislation will help ensure that hate crimes are better reported and addressed on college campuses statewide."

Rabbi Shaul Wertheimer, Chabad on Campus of Queens College: "Queens College students are wonderful. Campus is very diverse, and students craft deep, meaningful friendships with a wide variety of students and faculty. We have been actively working with the administration for the past 18 years. Antisemitism erodes the fabric of American society, and with the international rise in antisemitism, there is a lot more to be done to make sure that every Jewish student and supporters of the Jewish community continues to feel comfortable on campus."

Gideon Taylor, Jewish Community Relations Council of NY CEO: "It's truly unfortunate that a climate of fear pervades so many college campuses, but this legislation requiring colleges to collect data on hate crimes occurring on their campuses and report them on their websites will enable our elected officials and education professionals to address these issues with accurate data. Thank you to NYS Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and NYS Assemblyman Dan Rosenthal for their leadership regarding this important step in keeping students safe and campuses a place to grow and learn without fear."

Senator Stavisky and Assemblymember Rosenthal were joined at the press event by Senator John Liu, Senator Leroy Comrie, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and representatives from the Asian American Federation, The Simon Wiesenthal Center, StandWithUs, the Queens Jewish Community Council and the Chabad on Campus of Queens College.

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