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October 27, 2006 > News > Sexual assault reported on campus

Sexual assault reported on campus

By Beko Binder | Thresher Editorial Staff

A Rice student was allegedly sexually assaulted by another student Oct. 7. Rice University Police Lieutenant Dianna Marshall said police investigation of the incident — which occurred on campus — is complete, but the university is still handling the case.

“We are finished with our investigation,” Marshall said. “A number of offices on campus look at matters involving student conduct, and Student Judicial Affairs is one of them.”

The assault was reported from Baker College, and no criminal charges have been filed.

Marshall said the number of possible sexual assaults reported has increased recently, but the number of claims does not necessarily indicate an increase in sexual assaults. Some reports to RUPD prove unfounded, and some actual assaults may be reported to college masters or the Wellness Center and not RUPD, Marshall said. Some sexual assaults, she said, may also go unreported altogether.

Marshall said there are usually two or three reports of sexual assault each year. Three cases of sexual assault and two cases of sexual harassment have been reported this semester.

“There is a lot of speculation about why [there are more reported assaults this year], but we’re hoping in response that we did a better job at orientation at O-Week,” Marshall said. “RUPD spent some time focusing on student behavior, and we hope we did a better job and consequently generated a better dialogue between us and the students.”

Marshall said RUPD officers have attended recent safety meetings about sexual violence and are willing to work with any campus group concerned about public safety.

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