LAWRENCE, Kan. — University of Kansas students started their school year with a warning from campus police.
Before starting class Monday, students received an alert about an attempted sexual assault on campus.
It happened around 4 a.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of Naismith Drive, parking lot 90.
Students who live in nearby dorms said they are concerned about their safety.
Annie Brazil and Lauren McCormick are freshmen at the University of Kansas; they both received the alert about an attempted attack.
“I was immediately very shocked. I just moved in a few days ago,” said McCormick.
“Especially since it was like here, in this parking lot. Our dorms are pretty close so we walk through here a lot,” said Brazil.
University police said a woman was walking in lot 90 early Sunday morning when she was grabbed and pinned down by a man she had never met.
The woman was able to fight him off and he ran away.
She was not injured and reported the incident to a sexual assault resource group on campus.
“Both the care center and the Willow Domestic Violence Center have 24-hour call in lines,” said Kathy Rose-Mockry, the director of the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity at the university.
The school has many resources for victims of sexual violence. Advocates said this is the time when most sexual assaults occur.
“Research tells us that students are at the greatest risk in the first 6 weeks,” said Rose-Mockry. “Students are new to campus, they don’t know their way around.”
Although the woman involved in this incident was not a student, school staff said keeping students informed is the best way to keep them safe.
“Even though it wasn’t a KU student that was affected, it is important KU students know this happens in our community,” said Rose-Mockry.
McCormick and Brazil said the alert made them more aware of how they plan to stay safe while at school.
“I don’t really leave my dorm without a buddy like we met today,” said McCormick.
“Be aware of your surroundings to be safe and have someone with you at all times,” said Brazil.
Police said they do not believe this attack is related to a serial rapist that has targeted the University of Kansas and Kansas State University for nearly 20 years.
If you have any information on the suspect you are asked to contact crime stoppers or campus police.
