Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Campus

A 19-year-old student told police Wednesday he was sexually assaulted in a South Campus dorm last spring.

The male student told University Police he was assaulted by a male between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. on April 23, 2007. He did not report the criminal sexual assault to police until Tuesday because he feared media attention, said UP Asst. Chief Dan McAleer.

Criminal sexual assault refers to unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature, which can range from nonconsensual touching to rape, according to the Northwestern Student Handbook.

The student named a suspect, and the incident is currently under investigation, McAleer said.

"Sexual assaults are rarely reported to police in general," McAleer said. "When they are reported, they're either in a residence hall room or another fraternity or sorority room or an off-campus bedroom."

McAleer said police must notify the public of incidents that "may endanger the community at large," but because the assault reportedly occurred last year, a "timely warning" was not be possible.

There is no indication that additional assaults occurred, he said.

"Since this was just reported to us it's hard for me to say the community is in danger at this point," McAleer said.

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