NC State University Police said Monday that no charges have been filed after reports of three female students being sexually assaulted by male students on Friday during a party in Wolf Village.
One of the cases is being investigated as a second-degree forcible rape after one victim told police that she had been given alcoholic beverages and an unnamed drug, according to an incident report made public Monday night by University Police.
A second case is being investigated as second-degree rape, with alcohol and drugs determined to not be factors, according to one incident report.
The third student told investigators that she was the victim of sexual battery, with alcohol and drugs determined to not be factors.
According to the incident reports, two of the reports were made to University Police at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, and the third at 10:40 p.m.
In a statement released by the university, officials say that they are taking the accusations seriously and that the investigation is ongoing.
“Late Saturday night, NC State University Police received three reports of sexual assault from female students,” the statement said. “These sexual assaults were alleged to have occurred Friday evening; all of the complainants were attending the same party at Wolf Village, a University Housing facility on campus. These are serious allegations, and the University is cooperating with law enforcement and the district attorney’s office in the investigation.”
The statement also emphasized the confidential nature of the investigation and the release of information surrounding its findings.
“We will provide additional information only as confidentiality permits and without jeopardizing the investigation,” the statement said.
In a press conference Monday, University Police Chief Jack Moorman said that a team of four detectives has been assigned to the case, and investigators are currently consulting with the Wake County District Attorney’s office.
“It’s unusual,” Moorman said. “I don’t recall a time in the past where we’ve had three sexual assaults at the same time. Our entire investigative unit is working on the case.”
According to the 2016 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report released by University Police, and as previously reported by Technician, total reports to University Police of rape and fondling increased from 10 in 2014 to 15 in 2015. Reports of any kind of sex offense, including stalking, domestic violence and dating violence, have increased from 23 in 2013 to 53 in 2015.
The incidents Saturday were reported to have occurred in Timber Hall, the southeastern building of the Wolf Village apartment complex, between 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., according to Moorman.
University Housing did not respond for comment by the time of publication.
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, the country’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, an 18- to 24-year-old woman in college is three times as likely to be sexually assaulted as another woman outside that age range. Among women in college, only about 20 percent of all sexual assaults are reported.
Moorman said that while the process of the investigation might be long, he encourages anyone with information to come forward.
“We’re thankful that people were willing to come forward,” Moorman said. “We’re thankful that people stepped forward and made us aware of these allegations, but it’s a long and difficult process. Now, we want to make sure we’re not just investigating the crime, but that our students have the support that they need.”
Anyone with knowledge of the situation is encouraged to call University Police at 919-515-3000. If you have been affected by sexual assault, the NC State Counseling Center and Women’s Center provide advocacy and support to survivors of interpersonal violence through their Relationship and Sexual Violence Phone Line, which can be reached at 919-618-7273.
The entrance to Wolf Village's Gray Hall stands among the rest of Wolf Village apartments on Wednesday, July 26. Three incidents of sexual assault were reported to NC State University Police on Friday, July 21. University Police sent out an official email to all of campus via WolfAlert the following Sunday, stating that the three incidents were perpetrated by male students whom the female survivors knew while they were at a party. The message also stated that University Police is continuing investigation of the reports.
