Sexual assaults reported at CNU

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - Three sexual assaults have been reported at Christopher Newport University within the past few months and none are related.

The first occurred in October where a victim reported being raped at Wilson Apartments. A second victim reported being raped in November at James River Hall, while a third reported being sexually assaulted in February at Potomac River Residence Hall.

CNU Police will not release more information about the incidents and have not said if there are any suspects or a description of those suspects.

Some students on campus said they did not know about the incidents and said they were shocked.

“[I'm] definitely not comfortable,” Emily Jackson told WAVY.com. “I used to live in a first floor apartment and now I live on a second floor apartment. I definitely feel more comfortable.”

Student Ryan Tracey said he felt safe on campus.

“I have never had any problems,” Tracey said. “Nobody I’ve known has had problems in the dorms here. I think the security is fantastic.”

Some students are concerned that they did not know about the sexual assaults. Of the four students WAVY.com interviewed on Thursday only one knew about the assaults on campus.

"I do feel safe, but I have not heard of these reports so that is really startling and kind of disturbing," CNU student Amanda Swindle said.

"I know because I'm involved, and by word of mouth really," CNU student Daniella Johnston said. "They might have sent something out, but I don't check my emails that often. I really just heard from my sorority sisters."

WAVY.com asked CNU spokesperson Lori Jacobs whether alerts were sent to students about the assaults, or if anyone from the school's police department would be available for an interview.

In an email response, Jacobs replied: "If there had been a threat to the university community, University Police would have issued a timely warning notification."

CNU officials would not specify if the sexual assaults rose to the level of a community threat or if they did sent out alerts about the attacks.

"Maybe they could just keep the students even more informed," Johnston said.

In light of these events students maintain they feel secure on their campus.

"I do feel really safe on campus. We have a lot of spots where you can push a button, and it will call the police" Swindle said. "And, if you feel like someone is following you, you can push them along the way and it will track where you are walking."