Advocates + Survivors Demand Action from NY, Lay Out Comprehensive Bill Package in Response to Cornell Crisis

ALBANY, NY (10/08/2026) (readMedia)-- Today, the Alliance Against Sexual Violence hosted a virtual press conference with program experts from the Alliance; survivors Bridie Farrell, a Cornell alumna, and Erica Vladimer, founding director of Harassment-Free New York; and Joseph Storch, General Counsel of Excelsior University, a Title IX expert who helped author "Enough is Enough" (EIE) in 2014.

The group called on the Governor and NYS Legislature to pass a survivor-centered agenda that includes closing the voluntary intoxication loophole, reforming retaliatory defamation laws, funding Title IX programs, a civil rape shield, and preventive sex ed, among others.

"No survivor should have to risk their privacy, financial security, or future simply to seek accountability. The allegations at Cornell have brought national attention to barriers survivors across New York face every day. Too often, the systems meant to protect them create further harm, leaving survivors to defend their choices while struggling to access support and justice. We urge the Legislature to pass this comprehensive package so survivors can find support, speak without fear of retaliation, and pursue accountability. Survivors should not have to wait for another devastating case before lawmakers act," said Emily Miles, Executive Director of The Alliance Against Sexual Violence.

WATCH the press conference here.

Last week, Speaker Heastie announced a working group to examine New York's sexual assault laws. The Alliance is urging them to recommend and pass the following:

• Fix the Voluntary Intoxication Loophole (A101/S54): New York law defines "mental incapacitation" narrowly, generally requiring that the intoxicating substance have been administered without the person's consent. That leaves a serious gap when someone initially consumed a substance voluntarily but later became too impaired to consent.
• Protect Survivors from Predatory Defamation Lawsuits (A687/S9699): Across New York, survivors are being silenced by the threat of false, predatory defamation lawsuits designed to threaten financially vulnerable survivors and force them to recant. This is happening even in cases where the survivor's speech is legally protected (e.g., filing a Title IX complaint or a complaint with law enforcement). Extend the Rape Shield to Civil Cases (A9417/S9894): New York passed its primary rape shield law in 1975, protecting survivors from having evidence introduced related to the survivor's prior sexual conduct. Unfortunately, similar protections are not extended to civil cases, resulting in survivors and their family members being exposed to harmful and embarrassing questioning irrelevant to the civil case being tried.
• Victim Anonymity Protections (A7972/S9021): This bill would give people bringing civil lawsuits involving sexual offenses or HIV transmission the right to proceed anonymously, protecting their identities from public disclosure. It clarifies that these privacy protections do not depend on criminal charges being filed or a conviction being obtained, allowing survivors to seek civil accountability while maintaining their privacy. This is becoming increasingly important as technology has allowed abusers, right-wing influencers, and others to dox victims and put them in danger.
• Universal Campus Climate Surveys: While campus climate survey requirements are already codified into law, it is up to each campus when the survey takes place, how, and what the questions entail. Because of the survey inconsistencies, we are unable to make meaningful regional and statewide comparisons about the very important information the survey seeks to address. A statewide investment would help raise total participation, address flawed survey design, and provide deeper insight into the attitudes and awareness of rights and resources across all NYS higher ed.
• Strengthen Enough is Enough (Education Law 129-B) Protections: Enough is Enough (EIE) has been flat funded at $4.5 million annually since its inception 11 years ago. As staffing and operating costs have increased, that unchanged investment has resulted in reduced capacity at partnering rape crisis programs. These programs act as both an independent support and accountability mechanism for campuses, providing training for staff and students and response services for survivors. We call for doubling funding to $9M and adopting a weighted funding model, which would allow EIE providers to expand their support for survivors and campuses and fund 1-2 dedicated campus prevention and response staff at each program.
• Mandate Campus Collaboration with Local Enough is Enough Providers: Campuses should be required to collaborate with their local Enough is Enough provider (rape crisis program) on training of staff, administration, and students, and to connect survivors to its services when they are in need of care. Current EIE law provides funding for EIE programs but doesn't mandate that campuses collaborate with them, leaving students without access to an independent, expert resource for advocacy, counseling, and other aftercare services.
  • Enough is Enough should also be made permanent in Article VII language, and its regulations should be enforced through the State Department of Education or another appropriate agency.
  • Mandatory Onboarding and Refresher Training for Campus Law Enforcement and Security Officers: Though Title IX, Clery, and Enough is Enough require training for campus law enforcement and security officers, the quality and frequency of the training varies greatly across the state. All investigatory officers should be required to undergo onboarding and annual training chosen from training reviewed and approved by the state.
  • Increase Access to Expert Title IX Officials: Due to the complexities of ensuring compliance with Title IX regulations, it has become difficult for under-resourced schools to maintain high-quality Title IX officers and staff. Instead, roles turn over frequently or stay open for years while schools look for a suitable candidate. As a result, students lack access to ongoing, stable Title IX supports. The state should support under-resourced schools by providing supplemental funding to fill and maintain Title IX Officer positions.
• Mandate Comprehensive Sex Education in K-12 Schools: Gaps in sexual health education have even more serious implications for student safety. As noted in a recent report outlining New York State's failing sex education standards, decades of research demonstrate that consistent, accurate, and comprehensive health curricula improve attitudes toward others, increase knowledge around sexual decision-making, and reduce the incidence of sexual violence and dating violence among young people. If New York is serious about addressing sexual violence, it needs to invest incomprehensive, research-proven prevention curricula that include sexual education.
• Age Down Enough is Enough: Just as Title IX provides protections for students in both higher education and K-12 schools, Enough is Enough should do the same. Schools aren't experts on sexual violence prevention and response, but Enough is Enough providers are. Many are already working in public schools to provide training and support, though not in a manner as comprehensive as is necessary to make a large-scale impact on reducing incidents of sexual violence among youth. 80% of female-identified rape victims report that they were first victimized before the age of 25, and 49% before the age of 18. If we wait until college to provide sexual violence intervention and support, we are missing the opportunity to stop violence before it occurs.

"Survivors who come forward shouldn't be punished for speaking the truth- not by having their names dragged into public view, and not by predatory defamation lawsuits designed to drain them and force them to recant," said Erica Vladimer, Founding Director of Harassment-Free New York. "We spent the height of the #MeToo resurgence telling survivors their voices matter, and then left the door wide open for abusers to doxx them and sue them into silence. Lawmakers can close that door, and they should do it the way we did in 2019: with survivors at the table, not behind closed doors."

"Survivors should be able to pursue justice without having their private lives put on trial. New York needs a civil rape shield law, and it needs it now," said Bridie Farrell, survivor, Cornell Alumna, founder of America Loves Kids, and Director of Victim Rights, Advocacy and Legislation at Weitz & Luxenberg.

"What we're seeing at Cornell is a reminder that campus safety does not exist in isolation from the broader infrastructure supporting survivors and prevention work across New York. Rape crisis centers and community-based organizations providing Enough is Enough services are being asked to do more with the same $4.5 million investment they received when the law was created 11 years ago. When one advocate can be responsible for five campuses while also answering crisis calls and supporting survivors, we have to be honest about what that means for the capacity of the entire system. New York needs to invest in these programs at the level the work demands. This looks like adequately Enough is Enough funding to $15 million, strengthening the funding model, and ensuring campuses are required to collaborate with the independent, trauma-sensitive experts in their communities. Just enough is not enough!," said Trae Banuelos-Rovari, Statewide Enough is Enough Training & Technical Assistance Coordinator at The Alliance Against Sexual Violence.

"We can't only keep responding to sexual violence after it happens, we need to work on prevention strategies than can stop violence from even occurring. One of the best, evidence-based ways to do this is through K-12, age-appropriate, comprehensive sex education. Waiting until college to have these conversations is too late - we're missing half of the population," said Rose Khan, Senior Policy Analyst at The Alliance Against Sexual Violence. "New York does not have a sex education mandate or a standardized curriculum, so each district creates its own program. Gaps in sexual health education have serious implications for student safety. If New York is serious about addressing sexual violence, it needs to invest in comprehensive sexual education."

About the Alliance Against Sexual Violence: The Alliance Against Sexual Violence is New York's only sexual violence coalition, bringing together organizations and professionals working to prevent sexual violence and support survivors across the state. The Alliance also coordinates all 54 rape crisis programs across New York, liaising with college campuses in an independent capacity to support survivors.