A female student reported that a sexual assault occurred in her dorm room on Monday April 2, according to the Campus Safety and Security Department.
The alleged assault occurred in the morning hours Monday and was reported to Security in the afternoon shortly after a female student sought help at St. Joseph’s Hospital and someone there contacted the Tampa Police Department on her behalf.
TPD spokeswoman Laura McElroy said, “At this point it is unclear if a sexual battery occurred.”
Information about a perpetrator has not yet been released, but it is believed he and the woman were acquaintances, according to Charles Mascenik, director of campus safety and security.
Mascenik said, “I would like to release more information to relieve any fears about a sexual predator attacking the campus,” but TPD is still investigating. He is unaware if the alleged perpetrator is a student.
Attempts to identify a perpetrator were interrupted when a password glitch prevented campus security from accessing the camera system on Monday to locate video of a perpetrator. The glitch was resolved Tuesday, and CSS forwarded a copy of the footage to TPD, Mascenik said.
University spokesman Grant Donaldson said he is aware of the sexual assault report but referred The Minaret to Dean of Students Bob Ruday, who had no new information.
Ruday said the student did not contact UT security but had someone contact TPD, therefore only information from TPD is available. The University has offered support to the student.
The University promptly posted a safety alert Monday evening in the dorms and in non-dorm buildings as well.
“We felt it was necessary to put up a notice because it is better to be safe than sorry,” Donaldson said.
Ruday said administration wanted to let the campus know that an alleged sexual assault had occurred and to give students tips to prevent other sexual assaults.
Campus Safety encourages the UT community to report any information about campus crime to 253-3333 (ext. 3333 on-campus).
Sexual Assault Definitions
UT Campus Safety and Security follows the Department of Education’s guidelines for classifying crimes. Charles Mascenik said they are very similar to the FBIs. Whereas Florida law makes a distinction between sexual assault and sexual battery, the University may report a rape as a sexual assault even though in Florida sexual battery is the equivalent to forcible sexual assault, according to the UT website.
Any time force is “used or threatened,” the crime should be classified as one of four types of forcible sexual offenses.
1. Forcible rape is “the carnal knowledge of a person forcibly and/or against the person’s will; or not forcibly where or against the person’s will where the victim is incapable of giving consent because of his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity (or because of his/her youth).”
2. Forcible sodomy is the same as forcible rape but involving oral or anal intercourse with another person.
3. Sexual assault with an object involves an object illegally penetrating the genitals or anal orifice, with the same stipulations as forcible rape and forcible sodomy concerning the person’s will and ability to provide consent.
4. Forcible fondling is contact with another individual’s private parts for sexual gratification with force or against the other person’s will.
Non-forcible sexual offense is used to describe statutory rape and incest crimes.
Source: The U.S. Dept. of Education’s 2005 Handbook for Campus Crime Reporting.
Tips to Increase Personal Safety:
-Be aware of your surroundings and other people
-Communicate to friends and/or acquaintances when you are in an uncomfortable situation.
-Feel confident in saying “no” or taking other measures to protect your personal safety.
-Report immediately any unusual behavior or suspicious person to the UT Campus Safety ‘ Security Department.
-Don’t hesitate to talk with your RA, head resident or area coordinator about any concerns.
-Ask L.A.S.E.R. Team or CSS officers for an escort
Source: UT Safety Alert