A female University of Wisconsin student was sexually assaulted in UW housing Monday morning, according to a report from the UW Police Department. The UWPD received the emergency call from the west tower of Ogg Hall at 3:15 a.m. Monday.
According to the police report, the suspect of the third-degree sexual assault is described as a 6-foot clean-shaven male with a medium build. The suspect could have a cut or scratch on the left side of his face as a result of the incident. No further details of the case are known as of now. This case comes after two assaults were reported in the downtown area over the weekend.
A UW sophomore living in Ogg Hall who wished to remain unidentified said she has “never” felt unsafe in her residence hall. She did say, however, that she sees her fellow students open the outside doors for strangers who are student age.
“It happens a lot more than you think,” the student said. It is unknown at this time whether the assailant was an Ogg Hall resident or not.
Dean of Students Luoluo Hong said sexual assaults or rapes do not happen because of unsafe practices.
“Victims can do everything right and still get assaulted,” Hong said, explaining that any victim could take “safe” precautions, such as walking home with friends and not using alcohol or drugs, and still be assaulted. Hong, who has worked with sexual assault victims for more than 10 years, commented on what she thinks would be the ideal scenario for vulnerable students in the future.
“I think people can walk home alone at night and still feel safe,” Hong said.
Kelly Anderson, the executive director of the Dane County Rape Crisis Center, seconded this notion. She does not believe young females should stay home alone and feel that is the only way to feel safe.
Anderson explained that the Rape Crisis Center, which has an office on campus and a 24-hour crisis line (251-7273), offers counseling and advice to students if they think they were assaulted or do not know if they were assaulted.
“Some people call the night after it happens, and are deciding if it was rape or not,” Anderson said. “The victim might have said no, but knew the assailant, so did not report it to the police.”
Anderson said the rape crisis center is not required to go to the police, but often explains options if the victim decides to go the police, as does the Dean of Students office.
Anderson and Hong said a survey conducted on the UW campus revealed one out of every eight female students gets assaulted during their college career. Anderson said the Rape Crisis Center is offering self-defense classes at Gordon Commons starting in February, where not only physical skills are taught, but awareness skills as well.
The police are currently seeking any information regarding the Ogg Hall case from Monday morning.
