AU Public Safety has requested the community's help in identifying suspects in the aftermath of sexual and violent crimes against AU students walking in areas off campus.
The Metropolitan Police Department notified AU Public Safety of these crimes, which occurred between Sept. 23 and Sept. 28, according to an e-mail Public Safety sent to the campus community on Sept. 28.
Public Safety and MPD will increase their patrols in the area to ensure students' safety, according to the e-mail.
The first incident took place Sept. 23 and involved a male in a van exposing himself to a female AU student. This took place around 5:30 p.m. near the 4200 block of Massachusetts Avenue.
A sex offense occurred Sept. 26 around 10:15 p.m. The suspect, who the victim described as a Hispanic male who was 5'5" tall with short black hair, approached a female AU student and touched her in a sexual manner. The suspect ran off after the victim fought him with a corkscrew and her umbrella. This took place at the corner of Nebraska Avenue and Van Ness Street.
Another attack, in the same location, took place Sept. 28 at around 3:37 a.m. An AU student and another individual were walking southbound on Nebraska Avenue when three males surrounded them and demanded one of the victim's purses. When the victim refused, a suspect standing behind her tried to take it from her. When she tried to pull it away from the suspect, he took out a gun and pulled the trigger. The gun did not discharge, and none of the victims sustained injuries in the incident. The suspects fled when a Homeland Security employee heard the commotion and arrived on the scene.
The victims described the suspects as two Hispanic males and an African American male, all of whom were about six feet tall, according to the e-mail.
Public Safety did not respond to The Eagle's calls for comment on the incidents.
Public Safety plans to meet with campus organizations and leaders as a way to discuss strategies for safety, according to the e-mail.
Women's Initiative Director Ashley Evans said she hopes students pay attention to Public Safety's warnings. Women's Initiative will organize a group to walk from campus to the Berkshire Apartments at 4201 Massachusetts Ave. every night after classes that begin at 8:10 p.m. end.
"I hope that students are taking Public Safety's tips to heart," she said.
Public Safety has not decided on a definite plan for keeping students safer off-campus, according to Evans.
"They seemed to be very supportive of the idea [of walking in groups]," she said.
Rashad Muhammed, a sophomore in the School of Communication and the College of Arts and Sciences said that despite the crimes that have occurred, he would not change his habits when he travels around campus.
"I don't try to think about someone attacking me," he said. "I don't think I'm going to do anything differently."
Sophie Rothstein, a freshman in SOC, said she would try to travel in groups in light of the crimes.
"I try to be aware of my surroundings and travel in groups," she said. "[Given the recent crime], I'm more conscientious of what's going on around me."
Public Safety also released its 2008 annual security report in an e-mail Tuesday. In this report, Public Safety disclosed information regarding campus security, including its sexual assault policy.
The report also includes statistics for the previous three years everywhere on campus, as well as in certain off-campus AU properties.
You can reach these staff writers at news@theeagleonline.com.
