Jen Noel
Staff Reporter
In the past three weeks, two separate, unrelated incidents of sexual assault have been reported on campus.
On October 5, a student filed a report with Campus Safety that they had been the victim of a sexual assault in Whiteford Hall. The student declined to pursue any further judicial action with Campus Safety or the Westminster Police Department.
Two weeks later, a second instance of sexual assault was reported, this time occurring on Pennsylvania Avenue. The student also declined any judicial action. In both cases, there is speculation that alcohol was involved.
After a sexual assault victim has filed a case with Campus Safety, he or she is offered the option to be escorted to the hospital as well as given the number for Rape Crisis. Counseling services are also made available to the student.
Many times when sexual assaults are reported on campus, almost all victims refuse their right to press further charges.
“In the nineteen years I have been here,” said Mike Webster, “only a handful of sexual assault case victims have sought further legal prosecution other than reporting the incident.”