IUPD steps up patrol on campus

The IU Police Department has stepped up security around residence halls, after they received a report Friday of a female student being assaulted in the Wright Quad courtyard.\nThe unidentified female student told police she was grabbed and restrained by a male subject in the southwest corner of the courtyard, sometime between 8 and 10 p.m. Thursday. She told police she was not injured, and was able to free herself by pushing her attacker away.\nThe suspect is described as a college-aged male, dark complexion, approximately 5'8" to 6'0" tall, with a large build, wearing a white baseball cap with a red IU logo, black T-shirt and blue jeans. He was last seen leaving the area headed east, according to an IUPD statement. No arrests have been made.\nThis incident follows a string of reports last week of an intruder in women's rooms in Wright. \nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said he isn't sure whether the suspect is connected with the earlier incidents.\nStudents sometimes have a false sense of security while on campus, said Bob Weith, director of residential operations administration.\nWeith said students are given material pertaining to their personal safety at orientation sessions during the summer, which is reviewed again at floor meetings.\nMinger said students need to take measures to protect themselves.\n"If you have to go out after dark, try to travel with someone," Minger said. "Or if you're traveling alone, let someone know when to expect you."\nTraveling well-lit paths and not walking between dimly lit buildings are just a couple of ways students can avoid danger, Minger said.\nStudents should also report incidents immediately, so the IUPD has a better chance of apprehending a suspect, Minger said.\n"Immediate reporting is what police rely on," he said. "It increases our chances of catching someone. We have a majority of our officers on campus after 5:30 p.m. There was a very good chance we could have had an officer nearby."\nMinger said students should let their resident assistants know about an incident as soon as possible. Most of the time the RA will advise them to call police, he said.\nIUPD surveillance has increased since this latest report came in, Minger said.\n"We use the same kind of observation techniques that you might use," he said. "We look for someone suspicious, do his mannerisms indicate that he's waiting for something or nervous. We've stepped up patrol because we want the visibility. That's why we have white cars. If you're doing something you're not supposed to, you're not going to stay in an area where you might get caught."\nMinger said he suspects similar incidents occur with some frequence but often go unreported.\n"I wish we had a crystal ball to be able to tell (when these things occur)," Minger said. "By not propping the doors open, or letting unauthorized people into the building … Those things are there for personal protection."\nReached Friday, several representatives from Wright Quad refused to comment.