Sexual Assault Victims' Advocate Available to Campus Community

September 28, 2016

SUNY Plattsburgh students, faculty and staff now have a confidential sexual assault services advocate available on campus and through Planned Parenthood of the North Country.

According to campus Title IX Coordinator Butterfly Blaise Boire, Planned Parenthood’s newly appointed sexual assault services advocate Autumn Bennett will be available every Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 223 Redcay Hall. Appointments and walk-ins are accepted.

“Planned Parenthood was gracious to allow her to be here on campus one day a week and on call any work day,” Blaise said.

Bennett will be able to advocate for assault victims through any and all phases of their case, should the victim decide to report the abuse, Blaise said. She will “serve as a confidential advocate who can assist individuals in getting connected with outside resources, reporting confidentially, and supporting individuals from the point of reporting through either campus adjudication or criminal prosecution.

“Her role is someone who can help victims with paperwork in the legal system, go over their rights with them, accompany them to the hospital, accompany them to the police station, to my office or accompany them to a criminal court or student conduct hearing,” Blaise said. “She can get answers to questions on the victim’s behalf. It really is a great, great resource.”

Blaise said the college is “working to make sure wherever the student (or faculty or staff) start in the process, the parties involved — my office, the police, the hospital — know the advocate exists.”

Bennett will also be available outside her on-campus office hours at Planned Parenthood from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteer advocates are available on a 24/7 hotline. Bennett can be reached at 518-561-0605, Ext. 142. The Sexual Assault Hot Line number is 877-212-2323.