by Jessica Stewart
Assistant News Editor

After a female student was sexually assaulted early Thursday morning near Pine St and Lawn Ave, Public Safety (PS) has not discovered any further information about the incident,
according to PS Associate Director David Meyer.

Public Safety’s investigation has not indicated any specific suspects since the assault occurred, Meyer said. The suspect is a Caucasian male who is 5’10" and in his early twenties,
according to Director of Public Safety Maryann Wiggin.

Health services treated the student, whose identity is protected. 

"Our first priority is obviously to provide that [sexually assaulted] person with a safe non-threatening environment," said Ruth Blauer, director of the Health Center, referring to usual
Health Services protocol. 

Beyond assessing patients’ medical condition, Blauer said sexual assault patients in general are also provided with other resources.

The Health Center, however, is not equipped with a rape crisis kit. 

"We can’t do the whole rape crisis support here," Blauer said. "We’re not licensed or trained with the rape kit here. "That’s something that would have to happen down at the emergency
department."

Thursday’s assault occurred after an unidentified man asked the student for directions, according to Wiggin. This man wore a navy blue UConn hooded sweatshirt and gray baggy
pants. He then dragged the student to the rear of a building where he assaulted her, the Public Safety report said.

In response, Joanne Alcantara ’03, Cara Herbitter ’03 and Julia Marcus ’03 have planned a rally on Wednesday at noon in front of the Campus Center to support the student who was
assaulted. 

"Especially when the entire [Wesleyan] community knows about it, I think it’s crucial that we come together in support of the student who was assaulted," Alcantara said.

While it has mobilized this rally, the assault incident is not intended to be the rally’s focusing point, according to Alcantara. Instead, condemning violence against women by speaking
out against crimes and empowering women through supportive statements on cardboard cutouts of women is the rally’s intent, Alcantara said.

Students and professors are expected to talk during the rally about women resisting sexual assault, empowerment and not accepting rape.

"We wanted it to be during the day," Alcantara said. "It’s something we’d like to stop hiding from."

"It’s important to respond to every single act of sexual violence that we know about," Alcantara said. She said the rally is addressing sexual violence in general. 

"I’m actually glad that I don’t know anything about who she was," Alcantara said about the assaulted student.

Support resources for assaulted people include Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Service, Public Safety and Health Services in addition to Middlesex Hospital.

The assault incident drew attention to FBI statistics that show one in three women and one in five men being sexually assaulted in their lifetime.

Public Safety reminded students to walk in groups, to avoid being alone and to use the escort service. No significant change, however, has been observed in Public Safety escort service
since Thursday’s assault, according to Meyer.

Public Safety has appealed to the Middletown Police to increase their patrols. The Middletown Police Department could not be reached for comment.