Niagara County Community College is adding new services to help sexual assault victims.
The decision comes just months after a 7 Eyewitness News investigation into the handling of sex assaults on campus led to the ouster of college president James Klyczek and security director Fran Giles.
The agreement signed Tuesday night means Mary Brennan-Taylor of the YWCA of Niagara, who is an expert victim's advocate who was featured in the 7 Eyewitness News investigation, will coordinate victim outreach and other services available to students, staff and alumni on campus.
There will also be a 24-hour-hotline for victims (716-433-6716) and counselors will assist students when they want to contact police about a rape or sexual assault. One of the victims of last year’s attacks said she had to threaten the former college security director to call the sheriff's office when she was assaulted last year.
Many think this is an encouraging step and a positive sign the college is open to change.
But others say there was no shortage of policies in the past that college administrators ignored -- and it will be up to the people in those positions of power to do the right thing going forward.
Read the full memorandum of understanding between the three agencies below:
