On Thursday, October 8, Director of Security Don Marsala sent out an e-mail to all students informing them of an incident that occured at around 10:00 p.m. on October 7 near the Terrace Apartments. In the incident, two students were approached by three males and one female and asked to empty their pockets. The students refused and although one was pushed to the ground, neither suffered serious physical injury.
So far this semseter Marsala has sent out several emails reporting three incidents of sexual assault and two incidents of physical assault. This is many more than in previous semesters, and Marsala commented to the Miscellany News that he doesn’t “ever remember having this many incidents” and that “to have them all at once like this is kind of strange.”
Patrols all around the campus will be stepped up and the Police Department has promised added patrols in and around the campus as well.” When asked to elborate further, Marsala explained that “campus patrol is on added alert” and that there are more people patrolling on foot and on bikes.
Student officers who patrol the grounds are “allowed to challenge anybody”, according to Masala. But, when they are faced with more serious situations their protocol is to contact security officers through their walkie-talkies.
One of the individuals involved in last night’s assault was arrested earlier today when he was stopped on the premise of driving a suspicious vehicle. He was taken into custody and, according to Masala’s email, “he is currently at the County Jail awaiting arraignment.” Masala expects that the other individuals will be apprehended shortly with help from the individual in custody.
Masala concluded his email cautioning students to remember “that we are living in a world that isn’t always safe” and to report “any suspicious activity” to the Campus Response Center (CRC).
