February 17, 2019

This evening’s community alert

The Stanford Department of Public Safety issued a community alert this evening about two reported sexual assaults and an unwanted sexual encounter, possibly an attempted sexual assault, that were reported to have occurred on our campus this weekend. These are cases in which a university official has learned of an incident and notified the Department of Public Safety in accordance with California state law, but there is limited information about what occurred.

We are distressed to hear these reports, and we hope that the victims will come forward to allow both the university and the police to investigate. Our Confidential Support Team stands ready to support any student in our community who experiences sexual violence or relationship violence, and to help students understand their rights and reporting options, including making a police report that will facilitate a law enforcement investigation.

These reports, while not investigated at this point, are a reminder that we still have far to go in our efforts to eradicate sexual violence in our community. They are a call for each of us to recommit ourselves to creating the environment of care, safety and respect that we all wish to see at Stanford. Please visit https://sexualviolencesupport.stanford.edu for resources and information, or to seek care and support for yourself or a friend.