Fifth sexual assault reported near SMU campus

by Julie Fancher of The Daily Campus, Haley Thayer of The Daily Campus

The number of sexual assaults reported by SMU students is astounding.

DALLAS — SMU police released a crime alert to students reporting the off campus sexual assault of an SMU female student by an SMU male acquaintance.

This is the fifth sexual assault crime alert released to students this year. The alert also comes one week after President R. Gerald Turner released the names of the 20 members of the Task Force on Sexual Misconduct Policies and Procedures.

The crime alert stated that a female SMU student reported to University Park police that she had been sexually assaulted by a male acquaintance, also an SMU student, in the early morning of October 5.

The alert states that the alleged assault occurred at an apartment in the 3400 block of Asbury Avenue, just west of campus.

The Task Force on Sexual Misconduct Policies was created in response to the September arrests of two SMU students for sexual assault. The goal of the Task Force is to look into the way the university handles reported sexual assaults.

“Although our procedures are examined regularly, and mirror those of many other institutions, the Task Force will be a timely opportunity to broaden deliberations and conversation on this critical matter,” Turner said. “Its focus will include not only how sexual misconduct allegations are addressed at SMU, but also how the University can strengthen prevention and education on this important topic.”

The Task Force will begin meeting in October, with a full report to be completed on or before March 1, 2013.