Friday, October 10, 2008

Assaults cause fear on campus
Albion residents attacked at night
By EMILY MAGYAR
News Editor

Sketch that was released of the possible Albion assailant.

Members of the Albion community were warned not to walk alone at night last week after two assaults occurred on and near campus.

According to the office of campus safety, the first incident occurred near Bobbitt on Tuesday night.  A female student reported that an individual approached her and asked her for a cigarette.  When she did not have one to give him, he attacked her.  She was slightly injured.

“I walk by there all the time because I’m taking an art class,” said Lindsey Davis, Howell sophomore.  “It makes me really nervous.”

A composite and description were e-mailed to the campus community on Friday Oct. 3, describing the suspect as a white male, approximately 35-40 years old, with a tall and slender build.  He is said to have injuries on his face and may be bald or balding. 

Information about the suspect’s injuries was released after the second incident was reported.  The injuries were a result of the struggle with the female assaulted on Thursday night near the Bobbitt art department.

The Albion department of public safety stated that the second attack occurred when a 21-year-old female resident of the Albion community was assaulted near the intersection of N. Huron and Crowell streets.  The woman was struck by the suspect and sexually assaulted.

“Information will be forwarded if it is related to giving students information for their safety,” said Kenneth Snyder, director of campus safety.

No new leads have been received at this time, and the names of the victims were not released. A rumor that the suspect had been caught has been circulating campus, but campus safety says this is not the case and students should still be on the lookout.

“It really creeps me out, especially if I have somewhere on campus to go after dark,” said Shannon Crocker, Howell sophomore.  “I was walking back from the Science Center the other day and I almost started running just because I started thinking about it and got nervous.  I don’t think it’s right that we should have to feel scared on our own campus.”

The Albion public safety department and Albion College’s office of campus safety believe that the attacker lives in the general vicinity of the campus, and ask that anyone planning to walk at night do so with caution.

“Walk with a group of people, or better yet call campus safety for an escort after dark,” Snyder said.