Victim knows her attacker, officers say
Observer Staff Report
A Notre Dame student reported to campus security she was raped by an acquaintance March 25.
The victim was taken to a hospital where she was treated by hospital staff and interviewed by Notre Dame Security/Police.
At the victim's request, no criminal charges have been filed against the alleged attacker.
"We went to the hospital; we interviewed the victim," Rex Rakow, director of Notre Dame Security/Police said. "At the victim's request there's been no further follow up."
Additional security measures will not be taken and patrols will not be increased, according to Rakow since the alleged attacker and victim were acquainted
"These two people know each other," Rakow said.
Many rapes on college campuses are perpetrated by acquaintances, according to du Lac.
Since the victim has declined to press charges against the alleged attacker, the Office of Student Affairs will not take any action. The names of the students involved have not been reported to Student Affairs.
"Resident Life wouldn't even know the names if the victim declined to press charges," said Bill Kirk, assistant vice president of Student Affairs. "The primary interests of the victim are taken into account."
Campus security officials did report the incident to Student Affairs, however.
"All incidents of crime of campus are reported the same way as a normal police department," Kirk said. "If the incident involved a violation of school policy by a student, which is usually does, Student Affairs would also be informed."
While further criminal charges will not be pursued, the statistics on campus security will include this incident in accordance with the Campus Security Act.
All News Stories for Monday, April 3, 2000
