Students Report Mishandling of Sexual Assault Complaints in The Towers

*This article contains alleged information and sensitive content. Please respect the personal boundaries of anyone mentioned by name.

Illustration by Savannah Milton

By Jesse Zalk

Students feel that the process of filing a sexual assault complaint at The City College of New York (CCNY) is intimidating. To make it less daunting, Student Ombudsman Derrick Thompson Jr. guides students throughout this process. He shares that although there is a plethora of resources for counseling and reporting issues on campus, not many students know about them. “A lot of kids found out about The Office of the Student Ombudsman through an Instagram story,” Thompson Jr says. He shares that 37 Title IX (a law that prevents sexual discrimination and violence in schools) violations were reported at CCNY in the Fall 2024 semester. “Reporting these cases is hard enough already, and not everyone wants to go to the police,” he continues. “Students feel ashamed to ask for help. They need someone to provide support and listen to them.” Thompson Jr. claims he heard from a few students that some of The Towers’ staff were not making them feel heard. When these cases are reported, Chief Diversity Officer Sheryl Konigsberg is legally required to investigate them. However, numerous reports of Sexual Assault from 2022 to 2025 were allegedly not investigated because the Towers staff never reported them to her. If the allegations are true, it would mean there is a problem of neglect in the system.

Former CCNY student and Towers resident Cairo’s situation is emblematic of issues other students have faced. When Cairo first moved to The Towers, he knocked on every door he could. He made friends quickly. “It was my second day, and I was up late with new people. I felt a sense of freedom I’ve never had before,” Cairo says. Cairo explored the dorm with this new group, and spirits were high. However, things changed when another student allegedly assaulted Cairo that night. “I couldn’t really process what had happened. I couldn’t sleep knowing he was around.” He claims to have filed a report to his Resident Advisor (RA) sometime between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. As mandated reporters, RAs are required by law to report these cases. Although his RA did report the incident, Cairo was met with radio silence afterwards. “The Towers failed at giving justice,” Cairo reports. With nowhere else to go, Cairo and his friends went public on Instagram with these accusations, as others experienced misconduct from the same person. The Towers subsequently banned Cairo from his residence; according to the student, they never gave him a reason why.

Other students have allegedly had similar issues with other staff members, not just RAs. “H” is a third-year CCNY student who wishes to remain anonymous. H was allegedly assaulted by one student and stalked by another in The Towers during the winter 2022-2023 semester. H never reported these cases to David Iboy, the Assistant Director of Resident Life at The Towers. “What I heard of my friends' experiences made me uncomfortable to speak up,” H says. In March, H claims Iboy searched their room. H recorded their conversations with him. Their friend asked why Iboy was searching their room even though she had just reported a (different) sexual assault case, and Iboy repeatedly said he would “get to [those] cases later.” “He would always say he was months behind on paperwork,” H says. “I saw the stalker being questioned, but he still lived on campus afterward.” The student claims it wasn’t until three other girls went to the police that any arrest was allegedly made. 

The pattern of mandated reporters allegedly failing to follow through continues with Q’s case. Q wishes to remain anonymous as well. “David Iboy and other staff members were always searching our room, so clearly they were keeping an eye on students,” Q says. However, Q reportedly did not receive this attention when it mattered most. Throughout the 2023 Fall semester, Q claims her roommate would inappropriately touch herself despite repeatedly being told to stop. In October 2023, Q says they reported this incident to Iboy and asked to be moved to a different room. “He was careful with his wording in emails, but it was the lack of action that blindsided me,” Q says.  “He just suggested that we talk to each other. They never updated me after that, it seemed like they just dropped it.” Q subsequently messaged their RA with documentation on Discord, but was left unanswered.

With no other options, Q spoke about their experience in the Discord server for The Towers’ residents. Another student spoke up alongside her, but they were both banned from the server. “I was depressed that whole semester,” Q says. “ I had to live with my friends because my living situation on campus was too uncomfortable. It was a weird time for me overall.” Q states that the situation remained stagnant until their roommate presumably started showing this behavior to their other roommate, who was 16 at the time. This resulted in an alleged physical altercation, and only then was Q’s roommate removed. At the end of the year, Q was banned from The Towers for “missing payments” despite trying to work out a solution.

Friends of the victims are affected as well. X is a former CCNY student and used to live in the Towers. In the Fall 2023 semester, X’s friend was reportedly raped by another resident of the Towers. X claims reports were made to Iboy in 2023 and 2024, but nothing was done, and the accused remained on campus, causing their friend to move out in Spring 2023. Enraged, X went public with these claims on Instagram, causing them to be banned from The Towers. David Iboy said it was a serious concern for the security and safety of all residents to harass another resident with these claims, but X disagrees. “It is crucial that these issues are addressed thoroughly and transparently to ensure a safe and supportive living environment.”

Students residing in The Towers are banned before they feel their claims of sexual assault are heard. Victims already fear that no one will believe them when they speak up, and a climate that perpetuates that anxiety is unacceptable. Mandated reporters must make it their priority to investigate complaints. Otherwise, the consequences of their negligence can devastate victims of sexual assault, their friends, and loved ones. Ultimately, it is the job of CCNY’s staff to create a safe environment for students.

If you or a loved one has experienced assault on campus, there are many confidential resources available outside of The Towers. Besides seeing Derrick Thompson Jr., students can also speak with Psychological Counselor Sophia English. The psychological center on the 8th floor of the North Academic Center offers free therapy for students. These people are understanding and prioritize your safety and comfort. If you want to speak up, you should not feel afraid. You are not alone. 

Additional Support

Derrick Thompson: dthomas010@citymail.cuny.edu

Sophia English: senglish@ccny.cuny.edu

Psychological Center: 212-650-6602

*Edits were made to this article on 5/1/25