Bias/Hate Crimes

NYIT does not tolerate bias or hate crimes, including crimes where victims are, according to New York state's hate crime laws, “intentionally selected, in whole or in part, because of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation.” For more information on New York state's hate crime laws, visit http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/lawssrch.cgi?NVLWO:.

Primary Response Team

NYIT campuses: Office of Campus Security; Long Island residences: University police; New York City residences: 911
Director of facilities or designee
Office of Housing and Residential Life staff
Office of the Dean of Students staff/coordinator of campus operations and student services staff
Office of Counseling and Wellness Center staff

Secondary Response Team

Office of Strategic Communications and External Affairs
Office of Human Resources
Office of the President
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs

Objectives
New York Institute of Technology is committed to maintaining an educational environment that is free from bias/hate crimes.

Notification
Follow the established chain of primary responders. If the situation has caused loss of life or lives are threatened, immediately call 911. The Office of Campus Security will be the first NYIT responders in all emergency events and should be notified immediately.

Procedures

For victims:

Call the Office of Campus Security, or if the situation has caused loss of life or lives are threatened, immediately call 911. (It is best if you do this right away, but campus security will listen to your complaint no matter how long it is made after the incident.)
If you would feel more comfortable, report the incident to the dean of students or the dean of housing and residential services.
Follow campus security instructions.
If there has been a sexual assault or rape advise do not to shower, urinate, bathe, douche, brush teeth or hair, or change clothing if the assault occurred with the last 24 hours.
Seek help from an NYIT Counseling and Wellness Center for counseling and support. (All contact made with the Counseling and Wellness Center regarding an incident will remain confidential unless there is an immediate threat of harm to you or others.)

For witnesses:

Call the Office of Campus Security.
If a threat is still posed, leave the immediate area, but let campus security know where you are. (Local law enforcement will want to interview you.)
Stay with the victim(s), if possible, until help arrives.
Seek help from an NYIT Counseling and Wellness Center if you need counseling and support.

For primary responders:

Respond to scene; initiate emergency response phone chain by calling the director of facilities operations.
Find a private space where you can talk with the victim.
Be compassionate and non-judgmental. Listen to what the victim wants to do.
If the victim is in crisis, call an appropriate professional staff member for assistance; request that the director of security contact 911.
If there has been a sexual assault or rape, advise the victim not to shower, urinate, bathe, douche, brush teeth or hair, or change clothing if the assault occurred with the last 24 hours.
Encourage the victim to seek medical care regardless of how long it has been since the assault.
If a sexual assault has occurred, encourage the victim to receive care at a hospital.
Arrange transportation to a medical facility.
Provide a support person to accompany person to a healthcare facility.
In certain circumstances, which will be determined by the dean of students, the coordinator of campus operations and student services, the associate dean of counseling and wellness services, or the director of security, it will be necessary to report incidents of a violent felonies as well as a bias crime to the vice president for student affairs. Incidents involving the following circumstances will be reported, however the identity of the victim will not be revealed without written permission.
- The presence of assault-related injuries on the victim
- The use of a weapon during the assault
- The use of drugs to facilitate the assault
- Any sexual assault/rape on campus by a person unknown or known to the victim
- An incident that warrants the undertaking of additional safety and security measures for the protection of the community.

Follow-up:

Encourage a follow-up medical exam if an assault or sexual assault has occurred.
Encourage follow up counseling on or off campus.
Discuss accommodating a new resident assignment, if applicable.
Ensure judicial follow up occurs according to NYIT Student Code of Conduct.
Provide appropriate follow up with the campus community, including addressing community concerns, information sharing, and other necessary support services. (Refer, when necessary, to the policy on public demonstrations.)

** Note to Responders
Victims may come forward at varying points with differing emotional states, at varying lengths of time following an incident. It is the responsibility of the person contacted to describe the available options for assistance that may apply to each victim's unique situation. Medical, legal, and psychological services must be explored. In addition to seeking medical assistance and emotional support, the victim has the right to choose to pursue criminal action and, in the case of an on-campus incident, to provide the college with information to pursue judicial action. The decision to pursue judicial action in no way restricts the victim from filing criminal charges, and vice versa. Individual reactions often play a key role in the victim's perception of the incident. As someone contacted by the victim, it is essential to give supportive, non-judgmental reactions. It is important for the victim to feel a sense of control in the process. The decision of the victim must be respected regardless of what the staff member thinks may be best. It is required to provide confidential services to the victim and to provide those who come forward with a protective environment.