In 2018 alone, nearly 4,000 complaints of sexual misconduct were recorded at colleges in New York state, according to new sexual assault statistics from the state’s education department.

Cornell and New York University had the highest number of complaints. Cornell had 282 complaints compared with NYU’s 173 complaints, although NYU has more than twice the number of students.

The data was gathered because of the new state law known as Enough is Enough, which requires schools to track sexual assault statistics.

The fact that these reports are being recorded and the data is being released is certainly progress, but it’s notable that out of these nearly 4,000 complaints reporting misconduct, including sexual assault, stalking, domestic or dating violence, only 66 students were expelled as a result. Only two of these expulsions were at Cornell and only one at NYU.

Public institutions, by contrast, tended to exhibit a higher rate of holding students responsible for sexual misconduct with at least some kind of school disciplinary hearing.

According to history professor KC Johnson at Brooklyn College, if an accused student is better able to access a lawyer, they may be less likely to face a severe penalty.

“Students at the elite private institutions—the Columbias, Cornells, the NYUs—are more likely to be able to have some access to legal counsel than would either SUNY or CUNY students,” said Johnson.

The Enough is Enough law was established in 2015, but 2018 was the first full year of schools actually reporting sexual violence and misconduct under the law. Indeed, in 2017, a state audit found that 29 schools were not following the Enough is Enough law by a wide margin.

The 173 complaints recorded at NYU are a reflection of the size of the university, according to a spokesperson. “NYU has robust resources to help survivors, investigate incidents, and reduce the occurrence of sexual misconduct. In our most recent survey, roughly 90 percent of student respondents say NYU takes sexual misconduct seriously, responds to their cases seriously and fairly, and treats them with dignity and respect,” according to NYU spokesperson John Beckman.

And regarding Cornell’s recorded complaints, Chantelle Cleary, the school’s Title IX coordinator, said that the high numbers were in part due to raised awareness, understanding of consent, and use of available resources. Cornell had “significantly increased its effort to raise awareness around affirmative consent, and to expand resources available to students who may have experienced or witnessed an incident of sexual or related misconduct,” Cleary said. “We believe these ongoing efforts contribute significantly to the higher level of reporting on our campus.”

Data included in the report range from whether the incident took place on campus, whether law enforcement was involved, and whether the complaint went through the school’s judicial process or was dropped.

Can an Assault Survivor File a Civil Suit?

If you have been a victim of sexual assault or abuse, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially over something like sexual assault, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.