Penn State receives multiple reports of unwanted fondling at frats on same day. What we know
.JPG "Five cases of unwanted fondling have been reported at off-campus fraternities over the last 10 days.")
In a span of 10 days, five cases of unwanted fondling — one of which also included an additional sexual assault — have been reported to Penn State, with all having allegedly occurred at off-campus fraternity houses.
Three such reports came Sunday morning alone, resulting in Penn State issuing a “timely warning” notification via text and email to the university community. Such warnings are required by the Clery Act, which calls for colleges and universities to make such reports.
The most recent incidents occurred sometime between midnight Friday and 7:38 a.m. Sunday, according to public information released by the university. A Penn State spokesperson told the CDT that the three alleged sex offenses were reported anonymously in the same time frame Sunday morning to the university’s Ethics and Compliance Hotline.
It is unknown if the three cases occurred at the same fraternity, or fraternities, as the previous incidents. The university declined to release the names of the involved frats, spokesperson Lisa Powers said, to protect the integrity of the investigation, protect the anonymity of the victims and to not unfairly blame all individuals who may live at the same address.
The first reported incident this month allegedly occurred around midnight Aug. 18 at an unnamed off-campus fraternity. According to the report, multiple people were assaulted by the same individual. The second case, which mentioned both a sexual assault and fondling, was also alleged to have occurred Aug. 18. It was reported about a week later, on Friday morning.
The five alleged sex offenses all occurred between Aug. 18 and Sunday. And, again, all are alleged to have occurred at off-campus fraternity houses.
Last year, six sex offenses were reported in August — with four occurring during the final weekend of the month. Classes began Aug. 23 last year and Aug. 22 this year.
The high number of offenses comes during what sexual violence experts refer as the “red zone,” the six-week start of the fall semester when such assaults typically reach their peak.
According to the timely warnings issued by Penn State, it can be “assumed that conditions continue to exist that may pose a threat to members and guests of the university community.”
University Park provides several resources for sexual assault victims, including medical assistance and emotional support, which can be found on the Title IX page at titleix.psu.edu/resources-penn-state-university-park and also as outlined elsewhere on the university’s website.
