Dec 15, 2008 3:47 pm US/Eastern
Sexual Assaults Send Shock Through Goucher Campus
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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The tight-knit community at Goucher College received a disturbing e-mail from the school president. Inside he informed students about a string of recent sexual assaults.
The tight-knit community at Goucher College received a disturbing e-mail from the school president. Inside he informed students about a string of recent sexual assaults.
Mike Hellgren reports Goucher students aren't taking the e-mail lightly as officials investigate if one former student and two current students are guilty of date rape.
Outsiders often frequent the wooded trails of the quiet campus during reading hours, but a disturbing e-mail from the school's president says that insiders are raping their peers.
"In the past two weeks, we've had three eyewitness allegations that this has happened," said Kate Pipkin.
"We're, you know, the Goucher bubble. Everyone thinks that once you're in the bubble, you're safe, but I mean I guess you're not. And that kind of throws you for a loop I guess getting this e-mail," said Aliza Rosen, Goucher senior.
The alert says three students said they were sexually assaulted by people they know. Date rape drugs are suspected in all three instances.
"Well, if we think something's happening, we have like a code word like, 'Oh I think this guy is like bothering me. Maybe we should leave.' So we kind of like help each other out and keep an eye on each other," said Yolanda Abreu, Goucher freshman.
A second security e-mail reports two students were robbed and attacked after suspects broke into their dorm room.
"Last night, there were like three Baltimore County Police here, and public safety was like all going crazy," said Sam O'Briem, Goucher freshman.
The blue-light emergency phones sit all over campus in case someone needs to contact public safety, but some students say they've never thought about using them until now.
"I'm a senior, and there's never been any problem like this before. You know, everyone's very trusting of each other, and everyone's friends with each other as far as I know, so for something like this to happen seems really out of place," said Rosen.
The Goucher community says they're trying to move on from this, but it's pretty hard to shake.
The incidents took place on the Goucher campus and at off-campus locations.
Authorities are asking students to keep a close eye on their surroundings, especially on anything they may drink.
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