New York is implementing new rules to address sexual violence at its state universities. The policy will include a statewide training program for campus police, and the creation of a single, statewide definition of sexual consent for all of the 64 SUNY campuses.
Each campus will also have to ensure students can report sexual violence to campus law enforcement or the local police department.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the changes Thursday at a meeting of the SUNY Board of Trustees in Manhattan. The governor says the new plan is in response to "an epidemic" of sexual violence on college campuses.
Reports issued last month by 29 SUNY campuses say there were 238 cases of sexual violence and 145 cases of verbal sexual harassment during the 2013-14 academic year.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.