After three recent attacks against women in the University area, the Department of Public Safety will begin posting crime alert bulletins on campus as early as next week.
The bulletins will include information about the attacks and tips for preventing such crimes, all superimposed over the DPS star. Federal law requires that the department post bulletins after or during a series of violent crime on campus, but DPS officials plan to continue posting bulletins.
“Although we’re trying to address the situation at hand, we’re also working to lay down the groundwork to deal with future problems and get people to take better care of themselves,” DPS director Tom Fitzpatrick said. “This will be an ongoing, regular occurrence if there is a series of thefts or whatever.”
The three attacks causing the need for the bulletins occurred between Feb. 14 and Feb. 28.
At 10 p.m. Feb. 14, a University student was harassed while walking through the grassy courtyard between the EMU and the Student Recreation and Fitness Center. A man approached the woman, made threatening comments and grabbed her, according to DPS reports. The student kicked at the man and fled, according to DPS.
The second attack occurred at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 on the sidewalk south of Johnson Hall, where a female high school student on campus for a debate tournament was harassed and grabbed by a man. The student hit the suspect with a notebook and fled.
The third and most severe attack occurred Feb. 29 about 2:30 p.m. on the bike path leading from the University to the Autzen Stadium area. A female University student was walking near the Autzen footbridge when a man followed her, made threatening comments, fondled her and tried to push her off the walkway and into nearby bushes, according to Eugene Police Department reports. The suspect fled when other people walking along the path approached.
DPS and EPD officers say there is no clear connection between the three attacks, other than that women walking alone in relatively isolated areas were targeted. No suspects have been identified.
“This could be a coincidence or perhaps something else,” Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick said the bulletins will encourage students to avoid walking alone, follow well-lighted paths and use such campus programs as Project Saferide.
EPD Detective Pat Ryan, who works with the violent crimes unit, also suggested people avoid dark, isolated places.
“You have a number of areas from I-5 to downtown where there is a lot of brush, and it’s easy to be isolated,” he said. “It’s a situation where somebody could get one-on-one with a potential victim.”
Ryan said the bulletins might help prevent attacks if students take the time to read them.
“If a student pays attention to them, reads them and takes them to heart, the chances of becoming a victim are greatly reduced,” he said.
DPS is forming a strategy along with the Office of Student Life to place the bulletins in conspicuous places on campus and to make the bulletins sufficiently eye-catching.
Shayna Kent, ASUO safety advocate, said the bulletins might help reduce crime.
“Students need to be more informed,” she said. “There’s never going to be a sufficient amount of light, but students have to make appropriate decisions about where they go.”
Kent, who is working on an ASUO safety information pamphlet, suggested that students use main entrances to buildings, walk in pairs or groups and stay in well-lighted areas. Kent is also working to convince the University to put up more lights around campus and reinstall Duck Feet, the yellow, duck-shaped reflective footprint paths that lead through well-lighted areas.