Campus Crime ALERT - October 19, 2008

Campus Crime ALERT

In the early morning hours of Sunday, Oct. 19, two female University of Oregon students were accosted by an unknown white male adult in front of McArthur Court. The women were walking together on University Street at approximately 2:30 a.m. when a man came out from the darkness near the McArthur Court ticket office and grabbed one of the women. The two women fought off the attacker and he ran south on University Street. Both women received minor scratches on their arms as a result of the attack.
The assailant was described as a white male in his 30’s. He had dirty hands and fingernails and was wearing a light brown trench-type coat.

Community members are encouraged to consider the following personal safety tips.

1. Walk in well-lit areas that are well-traveled and usually occupied by others.
2. Walk with others at night or call for campus escort service at 6-6666.
3. Always be alert and aware of your surroundings. Remember that fatigue, alcohol, drugs and headphones can reduce your awareness of your environment. Keep your eyes and ears open.
4. Be aware of safe locations you can go to in an emergency such as open businesses, police and fire stations, hospitals and restaurants, as well as emergency phone locations.
5. Change your travel routine, planning safe havens along each route so you are prepared in the event of an attack.
6. Trust your instincts and avoid people and areas that make you feel uneasy.
7. Walk with confidence and assertion, wearing comfortable clothes so you can run in if necessary.
8. Walk facing traffic to make it harder for someone to follow you or grab you.
9. Make noise if attacked, to scare off your attacker and alert others for assistance.
10. Carry a fully charged cell phone with emergency numbers pre-programmed into the device.
11. Report any suspicious activity on or around campus to the Department of Public Safety immediately at 6-6666.

Posted November 3, 2008