Dear campus community member:

We would like to inform you of a crime that has recently occurred in the campus area so you have the information you need to take the appropriate precautions. We are issuing this Campus Safety Notice in accordance with a federal law requiring universities to disclose information about certain crimes.

We are sending this message to heighten your awareness, to enable you to take actions which can help increase your safety, and to aid in the prevention of similar crimes. We are not including certain details in this alert so as to avoid releasing identifying information about the victim.

The University of Illinois Police Department has received a report from a student that she was sexually abused at approximately 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 17, near Burrill Hall, 407 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana (map).  The victim reported that 3 or 4 unknown college age males approached her, picked her up and groped her.  No additional suspect information was provided.

The University of Illinois Police Department has a full complement of officers patrolling the campus area, and we are fortunate to have our force supplemented by the Urbana and Champaign police departments. Between these agencies, the Urbana campus is one of the most highly-patrolled areas in the region. More than 1,000 security cameras are posted around campus to deter crime and identify offenders.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the University of Illinois Police Department at 217-333-1216. Witnesses may remain anonymous by calling Champaign County Crime Stoppers at 217-373-8477 (373-TIPS) or by visiting www.373tips.com. Anonymous tips may also be sent via text message by texting keyword "CCTIP" plus the information to 274637 (CRIMES).

At Illinois, We Care.

Sexual assault is a significant concern at college campuses across the country. Nationwide, it is estimated that 20 percent of women and 6 percent of men experience sexual assault or attempted sexual assault during their time in college. In a study published by the Department of Justice, 82 percent of the victims were raped by someone they knew, and 18 percent were raped by a stranger.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign community is a strong one, and we have a collective responsibility to support people who have experienced sexual assault and or to step in if we are in a position to prevent sexual assault. For more information on reporting sexual violence or misconduct and how to support survivors, please visit WeCare.illinois.edu.

• If you notice a situation that seems unsafe for another person, intervene if it’s safe to do so or call for assistance.
• While it is always the victim’s decision to report crime to the police, reporting is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent crime in the future. For more information about reporting rape, please visit illinois.edu.
• Be respectful of yourself and others. Make sure that any sexual act is OK with your partner, and remember that consent is an active process, not the absence of “no.” Don’t assume you know what another person wants.
• Don’t feel obligated to do anything you don’t want to do. “I don’t want to” is always a good enough reason.
• Although you can never completely protect yourself from becoming a victim of any crime, you can reduce your risk of being targeted by walking in groups, avoiding isolated or dark areas, and trusting your instincts. If a situation doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
• Call police immediately if you observe suspicious activity.

The only person responsible for sexual misconduct is the perpetrator. University policy prohibits sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, which means sexual activity without the knowing consent of each person. Someone incapacitated due to the use or influence of alcohol or drugs cannot consent to sexual activity.

It’s on all of us to stop sexual assault. If it is safe to do so, we have the responsibility to intervene in situations that seem unsafe for others. If you cannot intervene, call for help. The University encourages students to take appropriate action to protect others' safety by reducing students’ fear of legal or disciplinary consequences to the victim or themselves. For more information, please review the Medical Amnesty and Good Samaritan procedures.

For more information on sexual assault, please review these resources:

• At Illinois, We Care
• Women’s Resources Center
• McKinley Health Center
• Counseling Center
• Title IX Office (Office of Diversity, Equity, & Access)
• Rape Advocacy, Counseling, & Education Services (RACES)
• Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)