Visit the Sexual Assault Violence Prevention (SAVP) web site for more informaiton about resources on and off campus, and what to do if you've been assaulted.
http://savp.vassar.edu/
New York State's Sexual Assault Prevention and Security Act requires colleges to provide students with information relating to sexual assault prevention. Vassar College is committed to maintaining a safe living and learning environment, and any behavior on the part of a member of the college community, its guests, or its visitors that constitutes a sexual offense is in violation of college regulations and will not be tolerated. Victims of sexual offenses should be assured that there are many options and resources both on and off-campus. Individuals who feel that they are victims of any of the sexual offenses described are urged to file a complaint with the Town of Poughkeepsie Police and/or the Associate Dean of the College for Campus Life, and to take advantage of on-campus resources and/or support services available off-campus.
College Regulations: Sexual Offenses | Sexual Offenses and Penalties Under New York State Penal Law
Vassar College expects that sexual activity occurring here will involve consenting, mutually interested individuals. Absent consent, sexual activity that is exploitive, coercive, and/or violent and constitutes sexual harassment, sexual assault, or rape. Any behavior on the part of a member of the college community, its guests, or its visitors that constitutes a sexual offense is in violation of college regulations and will not be tolerated. Victims of sexual offenses should be assured that the college provides many options and resources, including but not limited to, change of residence, counseling, and hearing before the College Regulations Panel. In addition, rape and other sexual offenses are illegal in New York State under §§130.00-130.70 of the Penal Code and may be prosecuted in a court of law.
Individuals who feel that they are victims of any of the sexual offenses described below are urged to file a complaint with the Town of Poughkeepsie Police and/or the Associate Dean of the College for Campus Life, or to take advantage of many other resources available to members to all members of the college community.
15.01 Sexual Assault is when a person performs, or compels another person to perform, any sexual act, including but not limited to sexual intercourse, without the victim's consent.
Any student accused of sexual assault will automatically and concurrently be charged with attempted sexual assault.
The minimum sanction for any student found guilty of sexual assault will be immediate suspension for the remainder of the semester.
15.02 Attempted Sexual Assault is when a person intends to commit sexual assault (as defined in section 15.01) and engages in conduct that would lead to it.
This category encompasses a variety of behaviors and sanctions will vary, ranging to expulsion in the most serious instances.
15.03 Rape is a specific kind of sexual assault. It is when a person has vaginal, oral, anal, or urethral penetration with any body part or "foreign object" without the victim's consent. Lack of consent may result from inability because of mental incapacity of the victim (due to, for example, intoxication), or physical helplessness of the victim (due to, for example, being asleep). Lack of consent may also result from intimidation (due to, for example, the aggressor's language, size, or threatened or actual force) that silences the victim by inducing fear or being further assaulted.
Any student accused of rape will automatically and concurrently be charged with attempted rape, sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault.
The minimum sanction for any student found guilty of rape will be immediate expulsion from the college.
15.04 Attempted Rape is a specific kind of attempted sexual assault. It is when a person intends to rape and engages in conduct that leads to rape (as defined by Section 15.03), but fails to have "intercourse" with the victim.
Any student accused of attempted rape will automatically and concurrently be charged with sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault.
The minimum sanction for any student found guilty of attempted rape will be immediate suspension for the remainder of the semester and suspension from the next semester.
College Regulations: Sexual Offenses | Sexual Offenses and Penalties Under New York State Penal Law
New York State Penal Code, Article 130, and the New York State Sexual Assault Reform Act (SARA) are the laws that govern the prosecution of sexual offenses in New York State. The following information is an interpretation of New York State Penal Code and should not be substituted for any information or advice offered by the local District Attorney's Office. Vassar College's regulations and the laws of New York State operate independently of one another and they do not substitute for each other. Vassar College may pursue enforcement of its own college regulations whether or not legal proceedings are initiated.
Under New York State Law, a sexual offense occurs when certain sexual acts are perpetrated against a victim without his or her consent. The law defines both the behavior and the physical nature of a sex offense and the lack of consent involved. "Lack of consent" can be defined as: (a) occurring as a result of physical force, coercion, or by threat either expressed or implied; (b) occurring when a victim is physically unable to indicate lack of consent because the victim is unconscious or because of a physical disability that makes one unable to physically or verbally communicate lack of consent; (c) the result of mental incapacitation in which the victim is temporarily incapable of understanding or controlling his or her conduct because of a drug or other intoxicating substance; or (d) when the victim is under 17 years of age.
Under New York State Penal law, sexual misconduct is defined as engaging in sexual intercourse with a female without their consent, or engaging in deviate sexual conduct with a person without the latter's consent. Sexual misconduct is classified as a Class A misdemeanor and definite sentence of imprisonment up to one (1) year.
Under New York State Penal law, if a person is forced to engage in any form of sexual contact without consenting, it is considered sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is classified as a Class A misdemeanor -- Class D felony depending on the severity of offense and particular circumstances, and can carry a maximum sentence of 15years' imprisonment.
Under New York State Penal law, if a person engages in nonconsensual intercourse due to physical force (forcible compulsion), due to coercion or threat--actual or implied, engages in sexual nonconsensual intercourse with another person who is less than 17 years old, or engages in sexual intercourse with another person who incapable of giving informed consent due to physical, emotional, or psychological disability or impairment the act is considered rape. Rape is classified as a felony offense, Class B-D, depending on the severity of the offense and can carry a maximum sentence of 25 years.
Under New York State Penal law, if a person engages in nonconsensual deviate intercourse due to physical force, coercion, or threat--actual or implied--the act is considered sodomy. Sodomy is classified as a felony offense, up to Class B felony, depending on the severity of the offense and can carry a maximum sentence of 25 years.