Treating all College community members with dignity, care, and respect is of utmost importance to Wells College. Campus community members are expected to understand and respect one another's boundaries. Students are encouraged to take care of their friends and ask that they take care of you. Any individual who experiences or is affected by sexual misconduct, whether as a Complainant, a Respondent, or a third party, will be referred to support and counseling services and other resources.
Wells College encourages all community members to make a prompt report of any incident of sexual harassment, sexual violence, stalking, domestic violence, or dating violence to local law enforcement and the College. The College recognizes that deciding whether or not to make a report to either Wells College or law enforcement and choosing how to proceed can be difficult. All individuals are encouraged to seek the support of campus and community resources regardless of where the incident occurred. These resources can advise individuals that if you have sexual limits, it is best to make them known as early as possible in any encounter. These trained professionals can also guide either party if a report and/or resolution under this policy is pursued.
As detailed below, there are a number of resources available both on and off-campus. There are confidential resources, which by law cannot share information without the consent of the individual seeking assistance. There are also various College resources that will be discreet and private but are not considered confidential. Even College offices and employees who cannot guarantee confidentiality will maintain a Complainant's privacy to the extent possible in furtherance of this policy. The information provided to non-confidential resources will be relayed only on a "need to know basis," including sharing information as required by law.
Confidential Resources:
The confidential resources listed below will not share information with the College or anyone else without the individual's permission. These confidential resources can provide assistance and information regarding medical assistance and treatment (including information about sexually transmitted infections and sexual assault forensic examinations) and resources available through the New York State Office of Victim Services. The On-Campus health and counseling services noted below are generally available to students free of charge
Community Medical Center
The Community Medical Center is open five days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.Counselors are available during these times and can assist and support individuals needing a confidential resource. (315) 364-3273
Mindwell
Mindwell is a company that offers several in-person and virtual resources about trauma and mental health. Wells College has contracted with Mindwell and a Mindwell counselor is available twenty hours each week during the spring and fall semesters.
Gabriel Hoff (he/his) is our current Mindell counselor and provides mental health care for Wells College students. He will be on campus in MacMillan Hall, 322, every Wednesday and Thursday. Gabriel works for the Mindwell Center, which offers research and evidence-based mental health services. Gabriel’s expertise includes but is not limited to anxiety, depression, insomnia, PTSD, ADHD, and sexual identity.
For more information about Gabriel, booking an appointment, and the Mindwell Center, please visit the following links:
https://www.mindwellcenter.com/gabriel-hoff-psychologist-ithaca(Gabriel Hoff’s bio)
https://www.mindwellcenter.com/wells (booking)
https://www.mindwellcenter.com (the Mindwell Center)
Sexual Assault Victim's Advocate Resource (SAVAR), Rape/Crisis Hotline:
SAVAR offers services to survivors of all forms of sexual and provides a 24-hour hotline with certified rape crisis counselors and advocates. They will answer any questions, help sort out feelings, refer individuals to appropriate resources, and accompany individuals through the process of reporting a sexual assault if they should wish to do so and with seeking appropriate treatment.
(315) 364-9795 - Main Office, 17 East Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021
(315) 252-2112 - Sexual Assault Hotline
Cassandra “Cassie” Porter (she/her) is our new Sexual Assault Victims Advocate (SAVAR) representative. She will be on campus in the Long Library (to the left of the reception desk) every Tuesday from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Cassie will also be on campus every other Wednesday from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Cassie can be contacted via her mobile work phone at 315-664-4174, and when not on campus, she can be contacted via 315-253-9795 ext. 300 and via email at cassandrap@cayugacounseling.org.
Cassie works at Cayuga Counseling Services and is here to help students that have experienced current or past trauma due to sexual misconduct. You can find additional services that Cayuga Counseling Services/SAVAR provides, including a 24-hour hotline here: https://211lifeline.org/detail.php?id=62492045&s=1
NYS Domestic Violence Hotline
1(800) 253-3358
NYS Office of Victim Services
1(800) 247-8035
You Are Not Alone (YANA) Campaign
1-833-400-YANA (9262) M-F 9:00 Am - 5:00 PM, live chat 24/7, https//opdv.ny.gov/survivors-victims
Confidential Medical Resources:
A medical provider can provide emergency and/or follow-up medical services. The medical exam has two goals: first, to diagnose and treat the full extent of any injury or physical effect (including prevention of sexually transmitted illnesses and pregnancy), and second, to properly collect and preserve evidence. There is a limited window of time (usually within 96 hours) following an incident of sexual assault to preserve physical and other forms of evidence. Taking the step to gather evidence immediately does not commit an individual to any particular course of action. However, the decision to seek timely medical attention and gather evidence will preserve the full range of options to seek resolution under this policy or through the pursuit of criminal prosecution. All hospitals in the state of New York are required to provide care for victims of sexual assault in the Emergency Department.
Hospitals in the Area:
Auburn Community Hospital
(315-255-7011)
17 Lansing Street, Auburn, NY 13021
Cayuga Medical Center
(607-274-4011)
101 Dates Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850
Cayuga Medical Center provides a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) for examinations. This program employs a team approach to assist survivors of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and rape with medical, emotional, and legal needs. With the survivor's consent, a team of nurses, sexual assault counselors/advocates, doctors, and law enforcement work together to support the survivor.
New York State Department of Health designated Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) hospitals to provide specialized care to victims of sexual assault.
The goals of the SAFE program are to:
The hospital and the Rape Crisis Program will not report the crime to the police unless the individual wants the crime reported. Reporting is an individual's choice. An individual can also refuse any step of the evidence collection process. This is also their choice.
The hospital will not release evidence to the police without the individual's written consent and will hold the evidence for 30 calendar days if they decide to make a police report later.
Other Hospitals in the Area:
St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center
(315-448-5111)
301 Prospect Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13203
University Hospital SUNY Health Science Center
(315)-464-5540
750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13210
Newark-Wayne Community Hospital
(315)-332-2022
1200 Driving Park Avenue, Newark, NY 14513
Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic
(315)-462-9561
2 Coulter Road, Clifton Springs, NY 14432
Geneva General Hospital
(315) 787-4000
196 North Street, Geneva, NY 14456
Non-Confidential Campus Resources:
Community members may contact the non-confidential campus resources below for information about the College's policies and procedures and access to support and resources. Our Campus Security Authorities (CSA) are trained to receive notification of alleged sexual misconduct and to initiate the College's response to those reports. CSA's and the departments listed below are trained on an ongoing basis to support individuals affected by sexual misconduct, consistent with the College's commitment to a safe and healthy educational environment. While not bound by confidentiality, these resources will maintain the privacy of information from any party who is covered by this policy.
Non-confidential, on-campus College resources, also referred to as Campus Security Authorities and departmental resources, include the following individuals/departments:
