Dean of Students Office

Since 1984, SUNY Trustees’ policy has required campuses to appoint personal safety advisory groups. Trustees’ resolution 84-108 (May 23, 1984) endorsed actions taken by the chancellor directing State University campus presidents to establish advisory groups to study issues and make recommendations relating to person safety, particularly the personal safety concerns of women. In 1989, SUNY Chancellor D. Bruce Johnstone requested that each SUNY campus convene a campus safety forum to:

• Review policies on sexual assault.
• Review and suggest improvement in safety education programs.
• Assess availability of counseling services for crime victims.
• Review victim referral and campus response procedure for sexual assault situations.
• Continue ongoing assessment of the equality of campus personal safety polices practices, procedures, and programs.

The 1990 amendment to Section 6450 of the Education Law added two major components to State University practice and policy:

1. Effective September 1, 1991, all colleges and universities in New York State must provide information to incoming students about sexual assault prevention measures, penalties, and related security procedures. Annual reports must be filed with the commissioner of education.
2. Effective January 1, 1991, every college must establish a campus security advisory committee to review current campus security policies and procedures, particularly in the area of sexual assault. The committee is required to submit an annual report of their findings and recommendations to the campus president.

SUNY has further recommended the Campus Safety Forum serve as the body monitoring the campus response to the July 2008 New York State Expanded Access to Family Court law, which expanded the jurisdiction of Family Court to provide access to those who are in an “intimate relationship” –who are non-married, non-parent victims of domestic violence, regardless of whether they are currently, formerly, or have yet at any point lived together or engaged in sexual relations. This protection has also been extended to adolescents in dating relationships who may also be victims of domestic violence, PL 530.11-1(c) & FCA 812-(c).

Buffalo State’s Campus Safety Forum is concerned with increasing safety awareness for all members of the campus community. Faculty, staff, and students should be especially alert during evening hours and when evening classes are dismissed. Faculty members are encouraged to urge students to use the campus escort service or to walk with a partner in the evening. Questions about the Safety Forum can be addressed to the Dean of Students Office located in 311 Campbell Student Union.