A Westchester County webinar shared life-saving tips on personal safety for college students — and why these conversations must happen before move-in day.
Introduction: The Moment Your Child Leaves Home
Picture this: You have packed your child’s bags, helped them settle into their dorm room, hugged them goodbye, and driven home. Your heart is full — but so is your worry. Will they be safe? Do they know what to do if something goes wrong? Do they know who to call?
For millions of families across America, this moment arrives every August. And while parents often prepare their children for academics, many forget to have the most important conversation of all — about personal safety.
That is exactly why the Westchester County Office for Women (OFW) brought together experts for a special webinar called “Beyond the Quad: Personal Safety at College” — part of their ongoing Empower Hour series. The session was packed with practical advice, real resources, and a powerful message: preparation can save lives.
What is the Empower Hour Series?
The Empower Hour is a regular webinar (online seminar — a free educational session conducted over the internet) series organised by the Westchester County Office for Women. Its goal is simple:
“Supporting, educating and uplifting women across Westchester County.”
Each session focuses on a topic that directly affects women and families. The August 2026 edition tackled one of the most pressing issues facing young people today — staying safe at and around college campuses.
Who Spoke at This Webinar?
Two powerful voices came together to guide students and their families:
| Speaker | Role |
|---|---|
| Catherine Borgia | Acting Director, Westchester County Office for Women (OFW) |
| Susan M. Carroll, Esq. | Director of Trainings, Outreach & Education, Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC) |
| Cindy J. Kanusher, Esq. | Executive Director, Pace Women’s Justice Center |
These are experienced professionals who work every day with survivors, students, and families — so their advice comes from real-world knowledge, not just textbooks.
What Did They Talk About? The Key Topics Covered
🎓 Why Parents Must Talk to Their Children BEFORE College Begins
One of the strongest messages from the webinar was this: don’t wait until the last minute.
Catherine Borgia stressed that parents should have serious conversations with their children well before they leave for college. Why? Because once a student is on campus, they are on their own — making decisions quickly, in new environments, with people they have just met.
Think of it like teaching a child how to cross the road. You don’t explain it on the day they first walk to school alone — you practise it many times before.
✅ Talk about personal boundaries
✅ Discuss what dangerous situations might look like
✅ Help them understand their legal rights as adults (because once they turn 18, the law treats them differently)
✅ Encourage open communication — they should feel safe calling you if something feels wrong
👫 Friends Must Look Out for Each Other
One of the most important points Catherine Borgia made was this:
“It is equally important for friends to look out for each other as they navigate their new environments. We are all responsible for helping each other avoid and prevent dangerous situations.”
This is called bystander awareness — the idea that we all have a role to play in keeping each other safe. If something feels wrong to you about a situation a friend is in, speak up. Check in. Step in. It can make all the difference.
⚠️ Sexual Assault: The Risk No One Wants to Discuss But Everyone Must
Susan Carroll and Cindy Kanusher were clear: sexual assault remains one of the biggest risks young people face on college campuses.
This is a difficult truth. But knowing about the risk is the first step to preventing it.
Cindy Kanusher said it best:
“Knowledge is power… it’s critical that students know how to protect themselves and how to access confidential support and resources if they ever need it.”
📋 Know Your On-Campus and Off-Campus Resources
The webinar highlighted that students must know where to go and who to call before they ever need help. Just like knowing where the nearest hospital is — you hope you never need it, but you must know it in advance.
Here is a summary of the key resources shared:
| Resource | Contact |
|---|---|
| Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC) Legal Services | pace.edu/law/PWJC |
| PWJC Phone Number | (914) 422-4069 |
| OFW Safety Resources (PDF) | OFW Resource List |
| OFW Office — White Plains (Weekdays 9am–5pm) | (914) 995-5972 |
| OFW — Spanish Language Support | (914) 995-6581 |
| OFW — After Hours and Weekends | (914) 995-2099 |
| Full OFW Website | women.westchestercountyny.gov |
📺 Watch the Full Webinar Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdzBQEDZrYo
📚 Understanding the Law — You Are Now an Adult
One critical piece of advice from Susan Carroll was about legal status. When a student turns 18 and goes to college, they are legally treated as an adult. This means:
✅ Schools can no longer automatically share information with parents
✅ Students must navigate many situations — including reporting assaults — on their own
✅ Understanding their rights and the law in advance helps them make better decisions in the moment
Think of it as growing up with a map — you are entering new territory, and knowing the rules of the land keeps you safer.
What This Means for You
Whether you are a parent, a student heading to college, or a friend of someone going, here is what you should take away from this webinar:
✅ Have the safety conversation now — not on move-in day, but weeks before
✅ Save key resource numbers in your or your child’s phone before they leave
✅ Friends are the first line of defence — look out for each other on campus
✅ Know the on-campus resources — counselling centres, Title IX offices, and health services
✅ Know the off-campus resources — organisations like PWJC offer free, confidential legal support
✅ If something happens, report it — you have rights and you have people who will help you
✅ Watch the webinar — it is free and available to anyone on YouTube
Your Rights as a Student
Every college student in the United States has legal protections. Here are some important ones:
| Right | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Title IX Protection | Federal law that protects students from sexual discrimination and assault at schools |
| Confidential Support | You can speak to certain counsellors without the information being reported further |
| Right to Report | You can formally report an assault to campus police or local law enforcement |
| Right to Resources | Schools must provide safety and support resources to all students |
| Right to Legal Help | Organisations like PWJC offer free legal services to survivors |
A Note on the Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC)
The Pace Women’s Justice Center is a non-profit legal services organisation [an organisation that provides free or low-cost legal help to people who need it]. They work specifically with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and harassment.
They are not just a helpline — they provide:
- Free legal representation
- Safety planning
- Education and training programmes
- Outreach for communities
Their participation in this webinar shows their commitment to prevention, not just response.
Conclusion: Talk Early, Stay Safe, Look Out for Each Other
College is an exciting, life-changing experience. But like any new chapter, it comes with new challenges and new risks. The best gift a parent can give their child before they leave is knowledge, preparation, and open conversation.
And the best thing students can do for themselves and each other is to stay informed, stay connected, and look out for one another.
The Westchester County Office for Women and the Pace Women’s Justice Center have done the hard work of putting resources, experts, and advice together in one easy-to-access webinar. All you need to do is watch it, share it, and start the conversation.
📢 Please share this article with every parent and student you know. It could make all the difference.
📌 Source: Official Press Release — Westchester County Office for Women, Published 6 August 2026. Available at: westchestercountyny.gov
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