On September 22, local news reported that there had been four rapes and one sexual assault at or near the campus of California State University San Marcos. Given the heightened awareness these days of how universities treat such sexual assaults like at Cornell, one would think that the local media would be on top of the most up-to-date news of the cases, their investigations, possible suspects.
Yet it’s been a full two weeks since the last news report of the scandal in San Marcos. And according to our take on the media, there hasn’t been anything.
The rapes and assault all occurred within a month — three on campus and one at an on-campus residency hall.
The only announcement coming out of the university administration is what they’re going to do to prevent future assaults.
The four incidents of rape reportedly occurred from Sept. 5 to 18, Cal State San Marcos representative Jerry McCormick said.
- Sept. 5 incident happened at The Quad Residence Hall
- Sept. 6 incident happened at the University Village Apartment
- Sept. 13 incident happened at Black Oak Hall
- Sept. 18 incident happened at The Quad Residence Hall
- Sept 21 sexual assault in Black Oak Hall.
All incidents are unrelated, and in each case, the people involved knew each other, except for the most recent incident.
The school posted a response to the incidents saying in part:
“We recognize that recent reports of sexual assault in campus housing have been difficult and concerning for our community. The recent incidents are not related and occurred independently by people known to the survivors. CSUSM is committed to doing everything we can to prevent sexual assault and strengthen safety on our campus. While sexual violence is a concern on college campuses nationwide, it is never acceptable, and the person who experiences sexual violence is never to blame. Our university community is coming together to implement additional security measures and build on the prevention, education and support measures already in place.”
The university said it’s doing the following to strengthen safety in its residential communities:
- Increased University Police patrols in and around residential areas.
- Additional overnight security has been hired for residential areas.
- Increased education and awareness for residential students focused on prevention, consent, bystander intervention, safety planning, alcohol education, and available resources.
- Establishing 24-hour staffing at front desks to require guest registration in North Commons and Black Oak Hall residential communities.
- Restricting exterior doors at North Commons and Black Oak Hall to exit-only other than main entrance. All communities already require access card or keys to the gates, building entrance, and apartment/bedroom doors.
- Expanded staffing including a deputy Title IX coordinator in Housing, Housing community director on call, director of prevention in education in Title IX.Additional information, support and resources can be found on this website.
Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.
NBC7SanDiego
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