Speaker Menin Calls on Ten New York City College and University Leaders to Testify Under Oath
NEW YORK – Today, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced that the Council will convene a major oversight hearing on December 8. It will call on presidents from ten of New York City’s largest colleges and universities to testify under oath about the institutional measures taken to protect students from sexual misconduct. Through its efforts, the Council has set a national blueprint of how local governments can demand transparency and accountability from powerful institutions.
“New York City is the largest college town in the country, with over half a million students pursuing their education across all five boroughs, yet recent incidents have raised deeply troubling questions about student safety,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “The City Council will not wait for another tragedy before taking action to protect students from sexual assault and violence. Our colleges and universities have a fundamental responsibility to keep students safe, support survivors, and ensure accountability. This hearing is a critical first step toward examining where our institutions may be falling short so that every student can pursue their education in a safe and supportive environment.”
The Council has invited Jennifer Mnookin, President, Columbia University; Linda Mills, President, New York University; Felix V. Matos Rodriguez, Chancellor, City University of New York (CUNY); Tania Tetlow, President, Fordham University; Reverend Brian J. Shanley, President, St. John’s University; Marvin Krislov, President, Pace University; Dr. Alan Kadish, President, Touro University; Joel Towers, President, The New School; Susan L. Parish, President, Mercy College; and Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, Yeshiva University.
“Sexual violence is far too common on college campuses. More than one in four women will experience it as undergraduates,” said Council Member Rita Joseph, Chair of the Committee on Higher Education. “As the facts of the case at Cornell University come to light, the New York City Council must examine not only the policies and procedures of our higher education institutions, but also how they implement them. Women deserve to learn in an environment free from harassment and assault. There is much work ahead, and I am proud to join Speaker Menin in taking this first step.”
The hearing takes place in the wake of sexual assault incidents at New York’s Cornell University and Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), which have sparked national outrage and a contentious debate on the effectiveness of Title IX policies.
In 2024, college campuses nationwide reported over 30,000 incidents of sexual and dating violence to the U.S. Department of Education. One in four women enrolled in an undergraduate program experiences some form of rape or sexual assault, though experts estimate numbers are underreported.
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