NYU administrators emphasized their resources regarding sexual assault on campus, citing nationwide attention on the fraternity rape allegations at Cornell University, at the first University Senate meeting of the semester. 

At the Thursday meeting, the University Senate — a committee of administrators, faculty and student representatives who discuss universitywide policies — announced this year’s climate survey. Slated to release in mid-October, the survey aims to assess various aspects of student experience, including their awareness of sexual assault resources on campus. 93% of students said they were aware of said resources in the 2024 survey, up from 81% of students in 2016.

“These conversations have prompted a great deal of conversation and thoughtfulness as well as anger across the nation as relates to sexual misconduct,” NYU President Linda Mills said at the meeting, referencing the Cornell rape allegations. “We’re committed to creating an environment where every member of our community is treated with dignity, respect and care.” 

Zoe Ragouzeos, vice president of student health, mental health, and wellbeing at NYU, highlighted that incoming first-year students are mandated to complete a sexual assault training. It aims to teach students bystander intervention skills, the limits of consent and healthy relationship dynamics. She also said that the university introduces students to consent and harassment resources at the Presidential Welcome Reality Show, where actors cover NYU’s Wellness Exchange Hotline and routine screenings for sexual misconduct and depression across all visits to the health center.   

In 2024, a group of students, faculty and staff proposed a mandatory sexual assault training that third-year students have to complete by the end of the fall semester. The university implemented the training after acknowledging how students’ understanding of relationships and consent can change as they attend college. 

Administrators also presented about existing programs for faculty, such as “Responding to Sexual Misconduct and Comply with Title IX” and “Sexual Misconduct Resolution Process, Protections & Support.” In the last year, the Student Health Center has also created the Respondent Education Group, which allows students accused of misconduct to speak openly with staff. 

Ragouzeos also noted that NYU requires “education for recognized fraternities and sororities,” including specialized training for chapter presidents on sexual misconduct and hazing. This semester, NYU’s chapter of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity was suspended until the fall of 2031, after an anonymous Instagram account posted photographs, videos and screenshots of members participating in sexual harassment, hazing and antisemitism. 

“NYU’s commitment to sexual misconduct prevention and response is sustained, comprehensive, and grounded in close collaboration across the University,” Ragouzeos wrote in a statement to WSN. “We bring together education, specialized clinical care and coordinated support to help prevent misconduct and ensure that students who experience it receive compassionate, timely assistance and investigations.”

At the meeting, administrators also introduced newly appointed deans and highlighted NYU faculty awards recipients — including retired creative writing professor Anne Carson, who won the 2026 Nobel Prize in literature. Before breaking out into committee discussions, a recent graduate of the university’s Prison Education Program, which offers free college courses to incarcerated students, spoke about the impact of the initiative. 

Contact Natalie Deoragh at [email protected].