Elon University police investigating rape
ELON, N.C. Sept 20 2019— For the second day in a row, FOX8 is following an alleged sexual assault of a college student in the Piedmont Triad.
On Wednesday, it was Wake Forest University.
On Thursday, FOX8 learned there was a reported rape in student housing at Elon University.
A heavily-redacted police report showed a student at Station at Mill Point, apartments for juniors and seniors at Elon, went to Alamance Regional Medical Center on Sept. 1 after an alleged rape. Police are investigating.
But students had no idea anything had happened.
“I think that it would have been beneficial about what is going on in our community,” senior Micaela Malachowski said.
She says they didn’t get a safety alert.
“We all know a lot of people on campus. It doesn’t matter if you know the person or not, it could still happen to anyone,” Malachowski said. “Just to know it’s happening is good so people are more cautious.”
A spokesperson from the school said alerts are only sent out “when it is determined the incident may pose an ongoing threat to the community. This was not the case in this incident. Sexual assault crime alerts are considered on a case-by-case basis.” Students disagree.
“I don’t think that necessarily changes whether it should be released or not,” Malachowski said.
“It’s valuable to spread information like this so that everyone can be on alert,” freshman Wellsley Cohen said.
Cohen says before she moved into her dorm, she had to complete a sexual assault online prevention and education program.
“Obviously it’s only one checkbox, kind of, in preventing and staying safe on a college campus,” she said.
Cohen says the school provides enough resources to make sure students know where to get help if something happens.
“I think everyone can benefit from having a course in understanding what your rights are in calling the police and contacting campus security, as well as confidentiality,” she said. “I think that’s a big concern for a lot of people — making sure you’re not exposed as a person if you report something.”
On Elon’s website, there are phone numbers, online portals and directions of what to do if a student wants to report an assault.
The school also has a 24/7 call line and an on-campus crisis counselor.
In 2017, there were two reported rapes on Elon’s campus. One was in a residence hall.
The 2018 crime report will be released in October.
FOX8
