Last week on Tuesday March 20, 2018, a female student was grabbed from behind by an unidentified man while walking between Lake Marion and the baseball field around eleven o’clock at night.
The assailant was in dark clothing and approximately 6’0”, but no other information about him has come to light.
The student was able to flee the scene and is now safe.
The student reported the incident to public safety.
Chicago, Oak Lawn, and Evergreen Park police were alerted and assisted SXU Police search the area for the aggressor.
The offender left the area before police could apprehend him, and there has been no new information on the incident or the assailant.
“At first, I was in shock,” says WXAV deputy music director, Eddie Chavez. “I didn’t think that situations like this could happen here on campus. I’d like to think that this campus is completely safe, but I know that nowhere can be completely safe. It was a real reminder that anything could happen. My mom called me about three minutes after the alert came out to ask me how I was. The alert system is very fast at notifying people the information that is relevant for them.”
Every Saint Xavier student received an email about the incident, but only those who signed up for the campus-wide text alert system received a text message around eleven o’clock on March 20.
Chavez thinks public safety handled the situation very well.
“The reaction from public safety was the right one. Not only were multiple public safety officers on the scene trying to figure out what was happening, Chicago Police was also quick to arrive on campus. I would have wanted the perpetrator to get caught but at least the student was able to get away safe.”
If anyone is feeling uneasy after this incident, Jack Touhy, chief of police and director of public safety, recommends students reach out to public safety.
“[Students] can reach out to student affairs. If [students] live in residence halls, they can reach out to the RA’s, or reach out to public safety.”
Students can also go to the public safety building if they are feeling anxious or have any questions. Commander Darrell Parks reminds students that the counseling center is also an option.
Touhy mentions a campus violence and prevention workshop that will be in the fourth-floor boardroom on Wednesday, March 28 from noon to two. If students are unavailable at that time, the same event will take place on Wednesday, April 4.
SXU Police also advises students to report any suspicious activity or persons by calling public safety at 773-298-3911, calling 911 or using the SXU campus emergency blue light telephones.
Caesar Torres
Deputy Editor in Chief