All individuals are urged to report any conduct that may constitute a crime to law enforcement immediately. Police have a unique legal authority to seek and execute search warrants, to collect forensic evidence that may have been left at relevant locations, and to make an arrest when there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed.

Reports may be made simultaneously to law enforcement and to COCR.

Individuals may contact law enforcement directly. Alternatively, individuals may seek assistance from a COCR staff member when notifying the police.  A COCR staff member can assist in setting up an initial meeting with the police.

Reporting to law enforcement

Law Enforcement can be reached at any time by calling 911 for emergencies or one of the numbers listed below.

• Cornell University Police Department
  • 117 Statler Dr.
  • Ithaca, NY 14853
  • (607) 255-1111
• Ithaca Police Department
  • 120 E Clinton St.
  • Ithaca, NY 14850
  • (607) 272-3245
• New York State Police:
  • 1850 Dryden Road
  • Freeville, NY 13068
  • (607) 347-4440 
• New York State Police 24-hour dedicated Campus Sexual Assault Hotline:
  • 1-844-845-7269
• Students at Cornell Tech should call 911, or review the additional options available on the Cornell Tech Safety & Security Site.
• Students at Weill Cornell Medical School should call 911, or access the Weill Cornell sexual misconduct website for New York City resources.

The university offers a number of confidential resources for individuals who are looking for support, or an opportunity to consider next steps, who need care or who may be unsure about whether to report incidents to the university or police. Conversations with the university’s Confidential Resources are kept strictly confidential and, except in rare circumstances, will not be shared (including to faculty, coaches, parents, etc.) without explicit permission.

• Cornell Health (medical and mental health providers, students only: (607) 255-5155)
• Cornell Victim Advocacy Program (for students, staff, and faculty: (607) 255-1212, victimadvocate@cornell.edu)
• The professional staff of the LGBT Resource Center: (607) 254-4987, lgbtrc@cornell.edu
• The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) (for benefits-eligible faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows and associates, visiting scholars, and retirees, (607) 255-2673)
• The University Ombuds: (607) 255-4321, ombuds@cornell.edu
• The director of the Office of Spirituality and Meaning Making and the pastoral counselors of Cornell United Religious Work (CURW): (607) 255-4214 / (607) 255-6002

The health and safety of every student at the university is of utmost importance. The university recognizes that students who have been drinking and/or using drugs (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary) at the time that prohibited conduct under these procedures occurs may be hesitant to report incidents due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. The university strongly encourages students to report such prohibited conduct. A student bystander or complainant acting in good faith who discloses any incident of prohibited conduct under these procedures to a Cornell official or to law enforcement shall not be subject to action under the university’s Campus Code of Conduct for violation of alcohol and/or drug use occurring at or near the time of the commission of the prohibited conduct. While no disciplinary action will be taken, Cornell reserves the right to take steps necessary to address health and safety concerns for the individual and the community, as well as the right to report truthfully to licensing bodies.

You have the right to:

1. Make a report to local law enforcement and/or state police;
2. Have disclosures of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault treated seriously;
3. Make a decision about whether or not to disclose a crime or violation and participate in the judicial or conduct process and/or criminal justice process free from pressure by Cornell;
4. Participate in a process that is fair, impartial, and provides adequate notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard;
5. Be treated with dignity and to receive from Cornell courteous, fair, and respectful health care and counseling services, where available;
6. Be free from any suggestion that a complainant is at fault when these crimes and violations are committed, or should have acted in a different manner to avoid such crimes or violations;
7. Describe the incident to as few Cornell representatives as practicable and not be required to unnecessarily repeat a description of the incident;
8. Be protected from retaliation by Cornell, any student, the accused and/or the respondent, and/or their friends, family and acquaintances within the jurisdiction of Cornell;
9. Access to at least one level of appeal of a determination;
10. Be accompanied by an adviser of choice who may assist and advise a complainant, accused, or respondent throughout the judicial or conduct process including during all meetings and hearings related to such process; and
11. Exercise civil rights and practice of religion without interference by the investigative, criminal justice, or judicial or conduct process of Cornell University

You have the right to make a report to Cornell University Police, local law enforcement, and/or state police or choose not to report; to report the incident to Cornell; to be protected by Cornell from retaliation for reporting an incident; and to receive assistance and resources from Cornell.

Cornell recognizes that making the decision to report protected status discrimination or harassment, to include gender-based harassment, sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, or other forms of sexual misconduct often takes time.  Nevertheless, pending the decision to report, individuals are strongly encouraged to take immediate steps to preserve all evidence that might support a future report or an investigation by the Police, by Cornell, or both.

Such evidence may include:

• A forensic sexual assault examination
• Any clothing, sheets or other materials (items containing bodily fluids should be stored in cardboard boxes or paper bags)
• Electronic exchanges (e.g., text messages, emails, and Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or other social media posts, to the extent that they can be captured or preserved)
• Photographs (including photographs stored on smartphones and other devices)
• Voice-mail messages and other physical, documentary and/or electronic data that might be helpful or relevant in an investigation
• Electronic and photographic evidence that may be lost through the upgrade or replacement of equipment (including smartphones), software and/or accounts or may simply be lost to the passage of time