Rowan University sent out an Extra Edition of Rowan’s Daily Mail this past Tuesday, Sept. 25.  This edition informed students that a sexual assault had taken place on campus that past weekend involving an unidentified man. The description they gave was of a college-aged Caucasian male with long curly hair.

Considering this is the second sexual assault that has taken place on Rowan’s Campus this semester, Rowan decided to put out tips for students about sexual assault.  They include in the notice how sexual assaults are a predatory crime and give students ‘red flags’ to look out for.

• Predators will work to isolate their victims.
• Predators take advantage of or create vulnerability by using impairment from drugs/alcohol; freshman status on campus; desire for acceptance and belonging and isolation from friends and/or public situations.
• Predators will use guilt and blame to shut down any hesitation or assertiveness by the potential victim.

The notice also gives students suggestions on how to intervene in these types of situations to ensure the safety of themselves and other students.

• You can DIRECTLY intervene by checking in with either the potential perpetrator or victim by asking if everything is OK or expressing your concern about the behavior you are witnessing.
• You can create a DISTRACTION by diverting the attention of the people in the situation, OR
• You can DELEGATE when you recognize a concerning situation and feel like someone else is better suited to handle it (i.e. police, friend, resident assistant).

Students are urged to call Public Safety at (856) 256-4922 if they have any indication that a sexual assault crime may occur or feel as if they are in an unsafe situation on campus.  There are also nurses, counselors, and doctors that students have access to between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

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