Sexual Violence and Assault

• Get to a safe place and call someone you trust, such as a friend, relative, Canisius Public Safety (716) 888-2330, Local Law Enforcement (911), or New York State Police 1 (844) 845-7269.
• Get medical attention immediately.  In addition to treating injuries, a prompt medical examination will test for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. You do not have to press charges if you seek medical attention, however, should you decide to proceed with legal matters a medical examination can secure valuable evidence that can be used later. If requested, someone will accompany you to the hospital.
• Preserve evidence. You should not drink, bathe, douche, brush teeth, change clothing or comb hair. It is only natural to want to do those things, but doing so may destroy evidence. You do not have to decide if you want to prosecute right away, but preserving the evidence helps if you decide to prosecute at a later date.
• Document the incident.  As soon as possible you should write down every detail of the incident including time, place, and other people present or involved. As time passes you may recall additional details so be sure to document them as well.
• Get professional help and support. Regardless of whether the assault is reported, it is often helpful to seek support for a traumatic experience:
• Crisis Services of Erie County: 716.834.3131​
• Counseling Center community referrals

• Listen and believe them.  Make sure they feel supported and in control as much as possible.
• Encourage them to seek medical attention and support, but remember that it is their decision. 
• Assure them that it was not their fault.
• Provide comfort and safety. Make sure you are there for them. 
• Ask them what you can do to be helpful.
• Keep all conversations private. Build a trusting relationship.
• Be patient. Remember that healing from any type of trauma takes time and everybody reacts differently.
• Seek help for yourself. It may be overwhelming to deal with your own feelings or response in addition to your friend’s. Talk to someone else about this.

There are options for reporting a sexual assault, and your right to make choices will be respected.  University staff will neither coerce you to report a sexual assault, nor prevent or discourage you from reporting a sexual assault.  You have the opportunity to pursue all legal and/or disciplinary remedies without academic penalty by the University. 

Judicial Process – External

You may file a report with the local police. The police and the District Attorney’s Office will handle the legal proceedings. You may reach the local police at 911 or the Buffalo Police Special Victims Unit at 716.851.4494.

Judicial Process – Internal

If the perpetrator is a member of the Canisius University Community, you also have the option to file a report through the University disciplinary system. Any campus proceeding will be handled with sensitivity and with respect for privacy.  Your report may be filed with Public Safety or the Title IX Coordinator.  All reports will be investigated and individuals found to be in violation of the university policy will face a variety of sanctions.  For more information or clarification about this process please contact the Counseling Center or the Title IX Coordinator. Please note that the Title IX Coordinator will respect privacy but cannot guarantee confidentiality.

Crisis Services is staffed 24 hours a day by trained volunteers who are able to connect with professional counselors for emergency outreach.  Crisis services will send a counselor to meet you in the emergency room if you want this for yourself. In addition, the Advocate Department offers free and confidential survivor support services to individuals 12 years of age and older who have experienced rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and family violence.

716.834.3131 (24-Hour Emergency Services)

Local Hospital Emergency Departments

Erie County Medical Center
462 Grider St., Buffalo | 716.898.3161 

Buffalo General Hospital
100 High St., Buffalo | 716.859.7100

Sisters of Charity Hospital
2157 Main St., Buffalo | 716.862.1800 

Oishei Children's Hospital
818 Ellicott St., Buffalo | 716.323.2157

RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network)

New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Sexual Assault

https://www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline 

Dating violence or abuse often starts with emotional and verbal abuse. The person may start calling you names, constantly checking on you, or demanding your time. This is your partner’s attempt to gain power and control over you.These behaviors can lead to more serious kinds of abuse, such as hitting or stalking, or preventing you from using birth control or protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Dating violence can happen even on the first date. If a date pays for the date, that does not mean you owe them sex. Any sexual activity that is without your consent is rape or sexual assault.

• Forcing you to have sex when you don’t want to
• Telling you that you owe them sex in exchange for taking you out on a date
• Acting overly jealous, including constantly accusing you of cheating
• Being extremely controlling, such as telling you what to wear, forbidding you from seeing friends and family, or demanding to check your phone, email, and social media
• Constantly checking in with you and getting angry if you don’t check in with them
• Putting you down, including your appearance (clothes, makeup, hair, weight), intelligence, and activities
• Trying to isolate you from other people, including by insulting them
• Blaming you for the abusive behavior and listing the ways you “made them do it”
• Refusing to take responsibility for their own actions
• Apologizing for abuse and promising to change again and again
• Having a quick temper, so you never know what you will do or say that may cause a problem
• Not allowing you to end the relationship or making you feel guilty for leaving
• Threatening to call the authorities (police, deportation officials, child protective services, etc.) as a way to control your behavior
• Stopping you from using birth control or going to the doctor or nurse
• Committing any physical violence, such as hitting, pushing, or slapping you

Love is Respect 
866-331-9474 
866-331-8453 TTY 
A project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, love is respect offers 24/7 information, support, and advocacy to young people between the ages of 13 and 26 who have questions or concerns about their romantic relationships

StrongHearts Native Helpline 
For Native Americans and Alaska Natives, offering culturally-appropriate support and advocacy 844-762-8483 

The National Center for Victims of Crime 

National Domestic Violence Hotline 

Physical abuse - This involves the use of force, resulting in bodily harm or injury. It includes actions like hitting, slapping, punching, or any form of physical aggression. All these are signs you’re in a domestic violence relationship.

Domestic violence red flags in a relationship include all forms of physical torment inflicted in an intimate relationship.
 

• Emotional or psychological abuse -This type of abuse targets a person’s emotional well-being and mental health. It can include constant criticism, manipulation, humiliation, and isolation, which can have profound and lasting effects on the victim’s self-esteem and mental state
• Sexual abuse -Sexual abuse involves any non-consensual sexual activity or coercion. This can range from unwanted sexual advances and harassment to assault and rape within an intimate relationship.
• Financial or economic abuse - Financial abuse is characterized by controlling a partner’s access to economic resources, limiting financial independence, or exploiting financial dependence. This may involve withholding money, preventing employment, or controlling financial decisions.

Technically considered a form of domestic violence, Stalking can be defined as a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. 

Stalking tactics can include:
 

• Following you around or spying on you
• Sending you unwanted emails or letters
• Calling you too often
• Showing up uninvited at your house, school, or work
• Leaving you unwanted gifts
• Damaging your home, car, or other property
• Threatening you, your family, or pets with violence 
• It also includes cyberstalking

Find a safe place to go if you are being followed or worry that you will be followed. Go to a police station, friend’s house, domestic violence shelter, fire station, or public area. 

You can also take the following steps if you are being stalked:
 

• File a complaint with the police. Make sure to tell them about all threats and incidents.
• Write down every incident. Include the time, date, and other important information. If the incidents occurred online, take screenshots as records.
• Keep evidence such as videotapes, voicemail messages, photos of property damage, andi letters.
• Get names of witnesses.
• Tell people about the stalking, including the police, your employer, family, friends, and neighbors.
• Always have your phone with you so you can call for help.
• Consider changing your phone number (although some people leave their number active so they can collect evidence). You can also ask your service provider about call blocking and other safety features.
• Secure your home with alarms, locks, and motion-sensitive lights.

Identifying Stalking : Screening questions and descriptions

The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center

Victim Connect - Resource Center and Referral Helpline

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Supporting victims of domestic violence is a powerful way to make a positive impact in your community. Whether you’re a friend, neighbor, or colleague, your understanding and assistance can be a lifeline for someone experiencing abuse.

Here are some simple and compassionate ways you can offer support:
 

• Be a compassionate ear. Let them share their feelings without fear of criticism.
• Create an environment where they feel secure to open up about their experiences.
• Understand that decisions to stay or leave are complex. Respect their choices and offer support regardless.
• Learn about domestic violence to better comprehend their situation and needs.
• Consistent check-ins show you care. A simple “How are you?” can make a big difference.
• Recovery takes time. Be patient and let them dictate the pace of their healing journey.
• Assist with tasks like childcare, groceries, or transportation to make their daily life easier.
• Suggest counseling or support groups. Professional help can be invaluable.
• Respect their privacy. Keep any shared information confidential unless their safety is at risk.
• Foster an atmosphere of respect and kindness, both personally and in your community. Small acts collectively make a big impact. 

Victim Connect - Resource Center and Referral Helpline (1-855-484-2846)

1. Consent to any sexual act or prior consensual sexual activity between or with any party does not necessarily constitute consent to any other sexual act.
2. Consent is required regardless of whether the person initiating the act is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
3. Consent may be initially given but withdrawn at any time.
4. Consent cannot be given when a person is incapacitated, which occurs when an individual lacks the ability to knowingly choose to participate in sexual activity.  
   1. *Incapacitation may be caused by the lack of consciousness or being asleep, being involuntarily restrained, or if an individual otherwise cannot consent. Depending on the degree of intoxication, someone who is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicants may be incapacitated and therefore unable to consent.
       
5. Consent cannot be given when it is the result of any coercion, intimidation, force, or threat of harm.                                                       
6. When consent is withdrawn or can no longer be given, sexual activity must stop. 

Drug and Alcohol Amnesty: The health and safety of every student at Canisius University is of utmost importance. The university 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 or sexual assault occurs may be hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct.

 The university strongly encourages students to report domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or sexual assault to institution officials. A bystander acting in good faith or a reporting individual acting in good faith that discloses any incident of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or sexual assault to Canisius officials or law enforcement will not be subject to the University’s conduct actions for violation of alcohol and/or drugs use policies occuring at or near the time of the commission of the domestice violence, dating violence, stalking or sexual assault.

Title IX Coordinator

Debbie Owens 
Frisch Hall 006
716.888.3781

Sexual Assault Liaison 

Eileen Niland, LMHC
Counseling Center
716.888.2620
Bosch Hall 105

Campus Ministry
716.888.2420
Old Main 208

Student Health Services
716.888.2610
Frisch Hall 001 (tunnel level)

Public Safety
716.888.2330
Bosch Hall (tunnel level)

Student Life and Housing
716.888.8300
Dugan Hall (tunnel level)