Campus police say they are still investigating an alleged rape that occurred inside a parked vehicle last month, but the release of additional details is unlikely.
On Sept. 26, a campus-wide alert informed the Vincennes University community of a sexual assault that occurred between 8:30 p.m. and midnight on Sept. 23.
Officials with the VUPD say a suspect was identified but is not currently in custody. While no further updates have been provided, campus police say they believe this to be an “isolated incident.”
“We are gathering evidence and working with the parties involved, but it is important to note that very few details will be released at this time because this is an open investigation,” Sarah Fortune, director of VU External Relations, said in a statement made exclusively to the Trailblazer staff.
Although there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the campus community, Fortune noted that VUPD is “committed to protecting the privacy and well-being of those affected.”
In the wake of the alert, students have voiced their concerns about the lack of information being made available on the alleged sexual assault to the anonymous social media platform YikYak. But Fortune said in the statement that the VUPD is “taking every measure to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff.”
Research by the National Institute of Justice shows that approximately 27.5% of college women report experiencing incidents that meet the legal criteria for rape or sexual assault.
Sexual assault can be defined as any non-consensual sexual act or behavior committed against a person through force, coercion, manipulation, or incapacitation.
A study by the Office on Women’s Health highlighted the long-term impacts of sexual assault, stating that victims often face challenges such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, and among survivors who remain on campus, nearly one in three reported academic difficulties, and more than one in five considered leaving school due to the trauma.
Safety tips provided by the VUPD as part of the alert on Sept. 26 include staying alert of your surroundings, communicating your limits and boundaries clearly, not accepting drinks from people you don’t know or trust, staying close to friends when out and being aware of the Emergency Blue Lights near parking lots and walkways throughout campus.
VUPD encourages students, faculty, staff, and guests to be alert to their surroundings and to report any suspicious behavior or activity to campus police at 812-888-5555.
