A female University student allegedly was the victim of an attempted sexual assault last Tuesday near a dumpster outside Fitzhugh dormitory, according to University Police Capt. Michael Coleman.
The student, whose identity is being withheld by police, filed a report Friday stating that she was attacked on March 30 while disposing of her trash around 10 p.m. According to the report, she was allegedly grabbed and pulled backward by an unknown assailant, causing her to strike her head against the dormitory's exterior wall, Coleman said.
The student alleged that the assailant attempted to remove some of her clothing. The student was able to escape from the scuffle and return to her room, he said.
Coleman added that the police do not know if the assailant attempted to pursue the victim after she fled.
The assailant is described as a white male of muscular build, with dark hair and dark features. The suspect was wearing a black or navy hooded garment with black or navy sweat pants, according to Coleman.
"We don't have any idea at this point of who the assailant is," Coleman said.
He added that while the department does not know if the alleged assailant is a University student, the attempted assault does not appear to be related to the serial rapist reported in the Charlottesville area.
University spokesperson Carol Wood stressed the gravity behind sexual assault cases that occur on Grounds and said reports are taken very seriously.
"There is a very strong support system in place," she said. "There is a great deal of [sexual assault] education that goes on at a regular basis."
First-year Engineering student and Fitzhugh resident Sarah Hagan said she was unaware of the attempted assault but does not feel that her personal well being is threatened.
"It should bother me, but I feel that we've taken a lot of safety precautions," Hagan said. "I personally don't feel threatened or scared if someone is going to break in. You have to be careful and be aware."
First-year College student and Fitzhugh resident Ashley Mundy said she also was unaware that the incident occurred.
Mundy said she is bothered by the alleged assault attempt but does not plan to take any extra precautions.
"I'm not going to go to extreme measures to make sure that I'm always with someone else," she said. "Most times it's not possible to make sure you're walking around with someone else if you're coming home from class or the library at night"
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