Assault, Harassment, & Bias

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Assault and harassment can take many forms, including: 

  • sexual harassment, unwanted sexual contact (e.g., kissing, groping, strangulation/choking, non-consensual penetration), sexual assault, or rape
  • intimate-partner violence (emotional or physical)
  • stalking
  • hazing
  • racist and bias-related incidents, and hate crimes
  • other types of violence and misconduct

If you've experienced harassment, assault, or a bias-related incident, support and medical care are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Regardless of whether the assault was recent or in the past – and whether or not you’re sure what happened to you constitutes harassment or assault – you deserve support and healing.

Here's how to get care.

Cornell Police (24/7)

Contact Cornell's Public Safety Communications Center at 607-255-1111 or 911 if you need immediate assistance. 

CU police can help you:

  • get to safety
  • receive emergency care for injuries
  • if you choose to do so, gather important evidence and/or make a report of the crime

Cornell Health

24/7 phone consultation

Call us 24/7 at 607-255-5155 for confidential phone consultation and assistance. An on-call health care provider can offer information about your options for care, and connect you with appropriate resources.

Victim Advocacy

Victim Advocates from Cornell Health's SHARE Office can provide confidential support and assistance for members of the Cornell community who have experienced harmful, threatening, or violent incidents. 

Advocates support survivors who have experienced a range of harmful behaviors, including: dating, domestic, or sexual violence; stalking; hazing; bias; and discrimination. These behaviors may include verbal, psychological, financial, religious, and digital abuse. 

Advocates provide: 

  • client-centered, customized support that allows survivors to make informed decisions about what they need and navigate any next steps
  • holistic safety planning consultations
  • comprehensive overview of reporting options – preparing survivors for each step of the process
  • accompaniment to related appointments on and off campus
  • support with safe housing, academic and workplace accommodations, emergency funding, and more

Learn more, and contact an Advocate, here.

Medical care

Cornell Health provides timely, confidential medical care including: 

  • evaluation and care for physical injuries
  • testing for sexually transmitted infection (STI), and pre-emptive treatment to prevent STIs
  • pregnancy testing and emergency contraception

Schedule an appointment as soon as possible (if urgent, call 607-255-5155 and press 1 during business hours). 

Please note that Cornell Health does not provide SANE exams for forensic evidence collection. This service is offered by Cayuga Medical Center (please see below).  

Mental health care

Trauma-informed counselors from Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) can provide confidential support to help you process experiences and cope with your feelings. CAPS Access appointments can be scheduled through myCornellHealth or by calling 607-255-5155.

You can also reach out directly to a counselor who specializes in supporting survivors to seek confidential support related to a recent sexual assault or unwanted sexual contact. To do so, log in to myCornellHealth and select “Appointments,” then “Mental Health appointment.” You will be given the option to send a message to a sexual violence response counselor, who will follow up with you directly to schedule an appointment. You can also call Cornell Health during business hours at 607-255-5155.   

Cornell Office of Civil Rights

Contact the Cornell Office of Civil Rights Title IX Coordinator at 607-255-2242 or titleix@cornell.edu. COCR can assist you with:

Consider bringing a SHARE Office Victim Advocate with you to meet with COCR to have a confidential resource to consult with each step of the way. You can also utilize the Complainants’ Codes Counselors who offer free, confidential assistance to anyone interested in filing a formal complaint with the Cornell Office of Civil Rights. 

SANE exams at Cayuga Medical Center

If you are considering making a report to law enforcement (now, or possibly in the future), you may choose to have physical / medical evidence of sexual assault collected and recorded at a hospital emergency room (must be within 120 hours of the incident). 

In Ithaca, this service is available 24/7 by the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program at Cayuga Medical Center (607-274-4411). An advocate from the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County will come to support you during your SANE exam. 

Cornell Health can provide guidance and follow-up care for those who choose this option. Call us at 607-255-5155, day or night, for assistance.

Additional resources

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