Whereas, Cornell Health houses the Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) office, which provides psychological and mental health counselors to the Cornell University community,
Whereas, the Sexual Harassment & Assault Response and Education (SHARE) office acts as a free service connecting survivors of sexual violence with a SHARE advocate who can aid students navigating their options for reporting a sexual assault,
Whereas, SHARE is not intended to primarily be a mental health resource for students, instead providing a link to CAPS for students seeking to connect with a counselor,
Whereas, excluding an initial free “Access Appointment,” individual counseling appointments cost $10 per visit,
Whereas, CAPS highlights its services as “short-term individual therapy focused on treating common mental health conditions and concerns,” noting that Cornell Health will refer longer-term needs off-campus,
Whereas, counseling services are a necessity for many survivors of sexual assault,
Whereas, any costs survivors may be required to pay for counseling establishes an additional challenge to receiving care and support after the initial assault,
Whereas, sexual assault survivors should be able to receive necessary counseling services to support their own feelings of safety while on campus,
Whereas, early psychological interventions following a sexual assault may help survivors reduce the risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health conditions,
Whereas, proposed solutions from the Presidential Task Force on Sexual Assault primarily emphasize prevention and punishment, survivorship is only addressed through publicizing available resources and examining the feasibility of safe ride services,
Be it therefore resolved, survivors of sexual assault be granted a fee waiver for counseling fees from Cornell Health, and that counseling hours be extended and accessible during times of community hardship, so that members of the community feeling the weight of sexual violence may also be supported,
Be it further resolved, CAPS should include “Survivor Support Counselor” under the current staff affiliations in their staff directory, ensuring students seeking specialized care after surviving a sexual assault can easily identify which providers will be best equipped to provide supportive psychological services.
Respectfully Submitted,
Hayden Watkins
Executive Vice President, Student Assembly
Sophia Trapani
Director of the Office of Elections, Student Assembly
