An unknown male intruder entered a Georgetown University student’s apartment Sept. 1, in what is now the ninth or possibly tenth case of sexual assault in the Georgetown University area in the past year and a half.
Since early last year there have been reports of male intruders entering dorms and apartments of female Georgetown students through unlocked doors and windows. The intruders lay in bed with, or otherwise sexually assault women and leave as soon as they wake up.
The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating these cases and could not comment on whether there were any leads or if the perpetrator has been the same person.
For some students at Georgetown, this news is unsettling.
“I was feeling safer until I moved to Georgetown,” said Zvisinei Sandi, a Masters student in Government at Georgetown. “With more people there is more crime, though.”
Many Georgetown students said they felt unnerved by the situation but not fearful.
The school has implemented several new safety measures, said Andy Pino, director of media relations at Georgetown.
“In addition to the police investigation, we have taken steps to enhance campus safety, including the recent hiring of additional public safety officers to step up patrols in and around campus,” Pino said.
Georgetown University has also been e-mailing safety reminders and situation updates to their students.
Freshman Anika Khan said she sees these e-mails as a positive step.
“With more awareness there is more possibility to prevent situations,” she said.
For many AU students, news of these assaults has come as a surprise.
“I had no idea,” said Ravenna Motil-McGuire, a senior in the School of International Service and a Congressional Hall resident assistant.
Many students have also repeated the same feelings as Georgetown students, saying safety is a precaution that should already be taken.
Georgetown’s Department of Public Safety also laid out some safety precautions. Students living off campus and in on-campus apartments and townhouses are advised to keep their doors and windows locked, even when they are at home. Students living on campus in residence halls are reminded to lock their doors even when leaving for a few minutes, as well as when going to sleep.
Georgetown Public Safety requests that anyone with information about these incidents call the MPD.
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