Stony Brook University junior Christine Publik joined New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo on January 17 as he presented the fourth part of his “2015 Opportunity Agenda” – a legislative proposal to protect the safety and rights of all of New York’s college and university students. The proposal would codify a sexual assault prevention and response policy previously adopted by the State University of New York, applying the provisions to all colleges and universities – public and private – in New York State.
Speaking in support of the proposal at New York University in Manhattan, Publik, an advocate for victims of sexual assault, said she was excited to hear that the Governor and SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher were working to make all SUNY schools adopt a uniform sexual assault policy that better protect students.
“SUNY is now implementing that kind of comprehensive policy, and I am very excited to see change in action thanks to the Governor’s leadership,” Publik said. “It really is great news, and I have no doubt that our campus is safer because of it.”
The SUNY policy was one of the first of its kind in the nation and creates a safer learning and living environment for students by outlining specific and consistent expectations of safety and responsibility. All 64 SUNY campuses adopted the policy, which can be found in full here, in December 2014.
To view Publik’s remarks, watch the video below:
Read more about Gov. Cuomo’s 2015 Opportunity Agenda.
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