On Monday morning, UIPD Chief Matt Ballinger sent out a Massmail to community members reporting a sexual assault that occurred during the early hours of Saturday. The notification is in accordance with the Clery Act, which mandates the disclosure of certain crimes to encourage student safety and “aid in the prevention of similar crimes.”
“The sexual assault occurred after 2:00am on Saturday December 14, at a sorority house in the campus district,” the email said. “The offender was known to the victim.”
The email reminded readers that survivors and victims are never at fault for the violence they experience and provided a list of ways bystanders can act to help in possible situations of assault, including intervening in unsafe conditions and reporting crimes to proper authorities.
The message also included a list of resources available to concerned community members, including the Student Assistance Center, the Emergency Dean Program and the University’s We Care program, as well as 24/7 resources available to victims of sexual assault, such as the Rape Advocacy, Counseling and Education Service and its national hotline.
