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 on or immediately adjacent to campus property.

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. To protect victims’ privacy, we generally do not include specific details about exact locations or times to avoid releasing information that could lead to the identification of a survivor and cause further harm to that person.

A Campus Security Authority informed the University of Illinois Police Department on Wednesday, Nov. 8, that a student had been touched inappropriately Sept. 20 at a university residence hall. The alleged offender, who is a U. of I. student, is the same person named in two previously reported instances of inappropriate behavior and lewd comments directed toward other people. While the two previous incidents did not meet the state’s legal definition of sexual abuse, we feel it is important information to disclose to the campus community.

You are receiving this notice because the alleged offender had been jailed in Will County, Illinois, for an unrelated incident but has recently been released and is expected to return to campus. We are unable to name the alleged offender at this time because he has not been charged with a crime related to the offenses detailed in this notice.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is providing resources to those involved and taking steps to prevent similar incidents involving the same offender. Although criminal charges have not been filed, student disciplinary proceedings may take place.

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. The university, community organizations and local law enforcement offer a number of reporting options.
  • 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:

   
     
   
This mailing approved by:
Public Safety

sent to:
Everyone
   
     
 
Massmail Archive   •   Massmail powered by Webtools