No arrests have been made yet in a reported March 9 assault on a female University student near Lambeth Commons.
Police have spoken with several witnesses and interviewed possible suspects, but there are "no suspects at this time," said University Police Capt. Michael Coleman.
The victim, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said she was coming home from work and parked in the University Hall parking lot to walk home to her Lambeth apartment at 12:30 a.m.
The assault occurred on the northwest walkway, which is the sidewalk connecting Route 29 and the Lambeth parking lot, she said.
When she was walking along the pathway, she said she noticed a man who "looked like he didn't belong there," which caused her to become suspicious.
"I saw a man coming towards me so I pulled out my pepper spray and my keys," she said.
She said he then asked her how she was, and she replied "fine" so that she would not seem passive and unaware of her surroundings.
During the exchange, she said she made it apparent that she was holding pepper spray and keys in her possession.
Even though she tried to walk around him, he attacked her, so she then proceeded to spray him with pepper spray and began screaming for help, she said.
The struggle probably lasted "a minute or two" and then he "suddenly ran away," she said.
A Yellow Cab driver who noticed the encounter then came to assist the student.
Although she suffered cuts and bruises, she said did not require any kind of medical treatment.
The alleged suspect is described as a 45- to 55-year-old white male with gray hair, weighing between 200 and 215 pounds. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a plaid button-up shirt and pants.
Coleman said he urges students to take safety precautions such as walking in groups along lighted pathways, using the Escort Service, obtaining a whistle from the new Parents Program initiative, remaining alert and aware of surroundings and reporting any suspicious persons or occurrences to police.
It is "important students take whatever measures necessary to secure their well-being," Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said.
But "while clearly any student is going to take sensible precautions, too often, people who are not from our community traverse the University Grounds," creating an even greater need to be alert, Laushway said.
"Safety is a primary concern of the University community, both on and off-Grounds," and the University is constantly exploring ways to improve safety, including adding more lighting to dark walkways, he said.
Past incidences in recent years in Lambeth have prompted University officials to boost safety measures in that area. Early in the morning on Feb. 23, 2000, two masked men walked into a Lambeth apartment, tied up its four male occupants and robbed them of their wallets and a watch.
In the southeast area of Lambeth along Lambeth Way, the University plans to add more lighting, similar to the light posts along Rugby Road, Laushway said.
The student said the "path [where the assault occurred] is actually fairly well-lit," but that "every time I have to park in U-Hall, I get really freaked out walking back."
She said perhaps having a police officer stationed near University Hall at night would help provide more protection.
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