BU student may be MIT assault victim

A female attending Boston University is believed to be the student who reported she was sexually assaulted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology a few weeks ago, according to school officials.

The student told MIT police five or six neatly dressed white men in their 20s held her down as they sexually assaulted her near the Kendall Square T stop around Amherst Street at 3:45 a.m. Sept. 16.

"I've heard this was a BU student," Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore told The Daily Free Press on Friday. BU Police Department officer Peter Shin also told the Free Press last week a BU student reported being assaulted on the same night at the same place while leaving a party at MIT.

In the days following the report, BU officials were unsure of the identity of the student. An email from MIT President Susan Hockfield read: "A Boston university student reported that she was sexually assaulted shortly after leaving Senior House, where she had attended a party earlier in the night."

MIT police did not return repeated phone calls regarding the incident.

If the victim is a BU student, the attack would be only the first of several alleged assaults involving BU students this year. On Sept. 28, a female BU student told police she had been sexually assaulted Sept. 22 on Ashford Street. On Sept. 25, another BU student reported she was assaulted in her dorm room near Kenmore Square, said BUPD spokesman Sgt. Jack St. Hilaire.

"We are concerned about the increase in violent crime," St. Hilaire said in response to the alleged incident at MIT. "If it's happening at [other area schools], it can certainly happen here."

On Friday, St. Hilaire said he cautions students to be vigilant while going out at night.

"The residential halls are more secure than walking on the street in Kenmore Square," St. Hilaire said. "It's probably because it's not the same circumstances, but I can't really talk in specifics. Every case is different."

On Sunday, a female visitor to Warren Towers reported she had been sexually assaulted in a bathroom on the 16th floor of Shields Tower.

St. Hilaire said he could not comment on specific reports of recent assaults because of state privacy laws, but he said current cases are under investigation.

"The best prevention programs are education," he said. "We can have 100 police officers on the streets, but it's up to the individual to have common sense and be aware of your surroundings."

St. Hilaire said it is important for students to remain aware of common misconceptions about sexual assaults. He said date rapes are typically synonymous with alcohol and drugs, adding "somebody jumping out of the bushes is very rare."

Common sense and responsibility, whether traveling in groups, avoiding dark alleys or using the BU escort service, are the most important ways to avoid dangerous situations, BUPD Officer Peter Shin said.

"The buddy system is older than dirt, but it works," he said. "We get criticized for pointing fingers at students, but it's the kind of situation we're in. If I could tell guys to stop sexually assaulting women and they'd listen, I would. But women in general have to take that upon themselves."

BU spokesman Colin Riley said students should report suspicious activity or suspected sexual assaults, even if it means incriminating themselves in alcohol-related incidents.

"If you see something, say something," Riley said. "People don't report incidents because they're afraid to say they were drinking. That should not be an impediment - it certainly will not diminish our efforts.

"The university always encourages individuals to report these incidents," he continued. "It's the only way the university can continue investigations and bring about results."

Though St. Hilaire said there is no connection between the recent publicity of sexual assaults and the number of cases being reported, Riley did not rule out a possible correlation.

"Perhaps it is a reason when someone else steps forward and reports an assault," he said. "I read a letter in the Free Press [recently] from someone who spoke about her situation [as a rape victim] and is better for it. I think that's a courageous thing to do."