SUNY’s Got Your Back event in NYC

SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson announced that Empire State College will host its first SUNY’s Got Your Back event today at its Manhattan offices. SGYB is an initiative to bring awareness to sexual assault and domestic violence, while providing comfort kits to victims.

The event will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. at 325 Hudson Street, 3^rd Floor, in the Multipurpose Room. Approximately 200 people, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff, are expected to assemble the kits. The kits will be distributed to rape crisis centers, hospitals, and shelters in the greater New York City area.

“SUNY’s Got Your Back calls attention to the problem of sexual assault and domestic violence, while providing tangible support to survivors of this violence,” said SUNY Chancellor Johnson. “We are pleased to have Empire State College President Jim Malatras and his team keep the momentum growing to both raise awareness of this issue and give support to the survivors.”

“’SUNY’s Got Your Back’ comfort kits demonstrate support, compassion, and empathy, which we hope will be a source of strength for victims as they begin to recover,” said Jim Malatras, president of SUNY Empire State College. “During 2016, I was proud to be a part of the launch of Governor Cuomo’s ‘Enough is Enough’ program, the state’s law on campus sexual violence. Chancellor Kristina Johnson’s leadership on this critical issue has raised needed awareness, aided victims, and reduced the incidents of sexual violence. Together with our chancellor, SUNY campuses, and the state Office of Victim Services, we will continue collaborative efforts to address this critical issue now, and in the future.”

SUNY’s Got Your Back was launched in 2016, and was expanded in 2018 with $5 million from the state Office of Victim Services. The funds enable SUNY to supply and distribute 225,000 comfort bags to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence seeking help at hospitals, shelters, and rape crisis centers across the state. SUNY coordinates volunteers across the state to assemble the bags.