Alleged sexual assault has students worried about safety

A sexual assault that allegedly occurred in the Fir Grove
building of the De Neve on-campus housing complex has left students
stunned and shaken, as many wonder if they are safe even in their
own private space.

“We’re all shocked and mad. This is our home,”
said Arisneh Ananin, a first-year math-economics and political
science student, who lives in the Fir building. “For the
first time all year, all of our doors are shut.”

“I just don’t feel safe here anymore,” said
Kimmi Greywal, a second-year business economics student who lives
in the Fir building. “I feel safer in public places than I do
in my own home now.”

The assault occurred in the mid-morning Thursday, according to
university police. The UCPD received a call at 3:20 p.m. Thursday
that someone had been raped in the Fir building and officers were
dispatched from the police station 18 minutes later, arriving on
the scene at 3:58 p.m, according to the UCPD’s media log.

The police log listed three male suspects, none of whom were
apprehended by police. One was described as 5 feet, 10 inches,
black, between 200 and 300 pounds, with a shaved head and diamond
stud earing in his left ear. A second was described as 5 feet, 10
inches, with dark eyes, between 200 and 300 pounds with dark brown
hair. He was wearing a white T-shirt, according to the log. A third
was described as 6 feet, black, 200 pounds, with dark short hair.
He was wearing a reddish, orange jacket, had silver braces and
spoke with a Southern accent, according to the log.

UCPD officers were unavailable for further comment Saturday
evening. UCPD are now urging students to take extra precaution in
order to protect themselves from potential predators and have
posted a bulletin on their Web site and throughout the dorms.

The bulletin asks students to:

“¢bull; Not let individuals they do not know into on-campus
housing buildings.

“¢bull; Lock their doors when they are not in their room and
when they go to sleep.

“¢bull; Contact housing officials or the UCPD, or dial 911 in an
emergency, when they see anyone they do not recognize.

The bulletin additionally said more specific information would
be made available once detectives complete their interviews with
the victim and others. Students living on the Hill said they would
use extra caution after the assault.

“I’m being very cautious about who I let into the
dorm and I hope other people are too,” said Kristin Gatfield,
a first-year political science student who lives in the Evergreen
building of the De Neve complex.

Erin Yee, a first-year world arts and cultures student, said she
is taking extra caution and has taken her name tag off the front of
her dorm room door. “I’m more aware of things around
me. I’m not paranoid, but worried,” she said.

The individual De Neve buildings do not have the check-in desks
other residence halls do. People can enter the buildings, even in
the middle of the night, without identifying themselves, so long as
they can get someone to open the door for them.

Gatfield said, “We’re trying to talk Housing into
getting a check-in desk right inside the building.”

Housing officials were not immediately available for comment
Saturday.

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