Times Union: Sexual Assault Remains Vastly Underreported at New York Colleges Despite Legislation

The Times Union interviewed Lindsey Crusan-Muse, director of St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services, for its article examining New York state’s Enough is Enough Act. Enacted in 2015, the law is aimed at curbing sexual assault on college campuses.

According to the article, two years of data suggest that sexual assault and harassment are still widely underreported by college students across the state.

From the story:

The 2015 law ensures that victims are made aware of their reporting options, including contacting law enforcement or pursuing their college’s adjudication process.

But those avenues can be traumatic and often spur accusations of bias, which is why those who work with survivors say it’s critical for students to have access to victim service providers as a pathway to healing.

Referrals to these outside organizations are still inconsistent, according to Lindsey Crusan-Muse, director of crime services at St. Peter’s Health Partners.

“It really comes down to how the college or university interprets that law,” said Lindsey Crusan-Muse, director of crime services at St. Peter’s Health Partners. “Even here in the Capital Region, the schools vary widely in how they interpret the legislation.”

Click here to read the full article.