After experiencing a traumatizing event such as sexual assault, it can be important to find a place where you feel comfortable and safe from harm. This location could be:
If you are being stalked or threatened, or have immediate concerns about your personal safety, Public Safety also provides a Walking Safety Escort Service.
Call 911 for immediate police protection and assistance.
Contact TC Public Safety at (212) 678-3333 for assistance on the TC campus. TC Public Safety can call the NYPD for you, have them respond to a private space on campus to meet you, and help you feel more comfortable in your interactions with them.
Alternatively, you may also notify:
TC’s Office for Student Support and Advocacy 212-678-3619
Teachers College, Columbia University, Title IX Coordinator
Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs
128 Zankel
(212) 678-3391
Jrobinson@tc.columbia.edu
Marjory Fisher
Associate Vice President
208 Philosophy Hall
(212) 853-1276
mdf2166@columbia.edu
800 Watson Hall
612 West 115th Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10025
The above resources are NON-CONFIDENTIAL, i.e. they are mandated reporters.
The following is a list of CONFIDENTIAL resources:
You may also ask for a confidential Survivor Advocate or Peer Advocate from Sexual Violence Response at (212) 854-4357 (available 24/7/365). You have the option of working with a staff survivor advocate or, when available, a peer advocate. Both are confidential and certified by the New York City Department of Health to address issues of violence. They can provide crisis intervention and will discuss options for reporting and seeking medical help. They help survivors make informed decisions about their medical, legal, and disciplinary options. Advocates can accompany students to on- and off-campus resources such as hospital emergency departments, the police, the district attorney's office, and Public Safety.
To speak with non-Columbia resources, you may call any of these hotlines for assistance. These include local and national resources for survivors of sexual assault and other forms of gender- and power-based violence.
For the purposes of evidence collection, if possible, avoid:
If you have done any of these things, evidence can still be collected and remains important in seeking medical attention. If you have changed your clothes, take the clothes you were wearing at the time of the assault to the hospital in a paper bag (not a plastic bag). If you have not changed your clothes, it may be a good idea to bring a change of clothes to the hospital. If needed, a survivor advocate from Sexual Violence Response can provide you with needed clothing or other items from the Survivor Care Package.
Counseling is often helpful for survivors because it provides a safe place to talk about their experiences and their feelings.
Counseling Resources:
Counseling and Psychological Services (Morningside campus)
Crime Victims Treatment Center: call (212) 523-4728 for an appointment Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Other things to consider:
Survivors and Co-Survivors (friends, family, classmates) may choose to speak with an advocate confidentially about:
For more resources, visit CU Health’s Sexual Violence Response webpage and see CU’s Gender-Based Misconduct Policy.