Police put campus on alert

Through poetry, music and art, 16 sexual assault survivors reached out to the community Monday night to shout out against sexual violence.

One by one, the women tearfully recounted their experiences, hoping to provide inspiration to victims who are not able to speak out.

“Any time folks can see the power of speaking out against sexual violence, we help to create a safer environment for those who have experienced it to go forward,” said Margaret Barrett, executive director of the Orange County Rape Crisis Center.

The event came soon after University police sent a campuswide e-mail warning of a sexual assault suspect who attacked three women in the last six weeks. The most recent attack occurred at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Europa Drive and Legion Road area in Chapel Hill. The woman fought back, and the suspect let her go, the e-mail states.

Police described the suspect as a black man, about 45 years old, with a mustache. He is between 6 feet and 6-feet-2 inches tall with a medium build.

The attacker’s car is a white, mid-1990s, American-made car with a gray cloth interior and taillights that wrap across the back, according to police.

According to the e-mail, Chapel Hill police said the first reported attack occurred March 11 at University Mall. The victim told police she got into a car shortly after midnight, and the man sexually assaulted her at a nearby location.

That same morning, another woman was forced into the same car at a convenience store on Fayetteville Road in Durham at 2:40 a.m. and was assaulted in north Chapel Hill, the e-mail states.

The perpetrator of the sexual assault crime still has not been caught, and officials are encouraging anyone with information to come forward, said Randy Young, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety.

“This is definitely an issue, and we appreciate any information people may have about this suspect,” he said.

The e-mail listed tips and precautionary measures students can take to protect themselves from becoming victims of crime.

“There are a lot of measures people can do to protect themselves from being a victim of opportunity,” he said.

As of early April, there have been 25 blind reports of sexual assaults filed to the University this academic year: 18 in the fall and seven this semester.

“We have been talking about the issue of sexual assault all year, and this incident opens a new focus,” said Melinda Manning, assistant dean of students.

She said students need to take more precautionary steps to protect themselves. “Crime can even happen in the safest places, but I think that, generally, this is a safe campus.”

Manning urged students to not hesitate to call the police when they see something out of the ordinary.

Young added that sexual assault is an issue that needs to be addressed by the entire community. He also said increasing security is a collaborative effort from both the Chapel Hill Police Department and the University.

Junior Kimberly Hung said the e-mail caught her attention.

“I did kind of freak out by the e-mail,” she said. But she added that, overall, she still feels safe on campus.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.