With the start of the Spring semester, SUNY Poly’s Title IX Working Group would like to take the opportunity to remind students of the Policy for Alcohol and/or Drug Use Amnesty in Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Cases, which is included in the SUNY Polytechnic Institute Student Handbook.  This amnesty policy has been adopted at all colleges and universities in New York State per the “Enough is Enough” legislation enacted last year.  The purpose of the policy is to encourage students to report incidents of sexual and interpersonal violence without fear that the reporting could result in the bystander being in violation of certain campus policies if the bystander was consuming alcohol and/or drugs at the time of the incident.  The full policy is provided below.

Policy for Alcohol and/or Drug Use Amnesty in Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Cases:

The health and safety of every student at the State University of New York and its State-operated and community colleges is of utmost importance. SUNY Poly recognizes that students who have been drinking and/or using drugs (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary) at the time that violence, including, but not limited to, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual harassment or sexual violence occurs may be hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. SUNY Poly strongly encourages students to report incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual harassment or sexual violence to institution officials. A bystander or a reporting individual acting in good faith that discloses any incident of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual harassment or sexual violence to SUNY Poly officials or law enforcement will not be subject to SUNY Poly’s Student Code of Personal Conduct for violations of alcohol and/or drug use policies occurring at or near the time of the commission of the domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual harassment or sexual violence.

If you have any questions on this policy, please contact the Title IX Coordinators at TitleIX@sunypoly.edu.

Thank you,

SUNY Poly Title IX Working Group Website: https://sunypoly.edu/titleix/ Email: TitleIX@sunypoly.edu

SUNY Poly Title IX Coordinators:

Rhonda Haines Title IX Coordinator VP for Human Resources and Special Projects NFE #4111 (Albany Site) Kunsela Hall, A011 (Utica Site) (518) 956-7362 hainesr@sunypoly.edu rhaines@sunypoly.edu

Stacey Genther Deputy Title IX Coordinator Health Educator Oriskany Hall, Suite B (315) 792-7808 stacey.genther@sunypoly.edu

Katie Tynan Deputy Title IX Coordinator AVP for Benefits and Leave Administration NFE #4111 (Albany Site) Kunsela Hall, A011 (Utica Site) (518) 956-7317 tynank@sunypoly.edu ktynan@sunypoly.edu