Student victim attempted to file a report and was turned away by CPSO
Recently the Vanguard published a report on the sexual assaults that occurred on the PSU campus in mid to late December [“Sexual assaults lead to increased security,” Jan. 10]. After the story was published, a student, who will remain anonymous, contacted the Vanguard. She had also been assaulted by a man whom she believes was the same assailant as the one involved in the incident on Dec. 7, 2011. When she later attempted to file a CPSO report she was turned away, so her assault was not immediately connected to the Dec. 7 incident.
In the Campus Public Safety Office’s sexual-assault report from that incident, the assailant was described as being 5’ 7”, 170 pounds with “black hair and brown eyes.” The victim stated that the assailant was “wearing a dark heavy jacket and had an accent that was East African or Middle Eastern.”
Phillip Zerzan, director of CPSO, fielded questions about the Dec. 7 incident at the campus public safety forum on Jan. 12, and he stated that due to the victim not knowing her attacker and a lack of evidence, the crime had a “low solvability rate.”
The student who contacted the Vanguard described her attacker as African-American with “a very thick accent.”
“He was about 5’ 7” or 5’ 8”, around 170 pounds and in his later 30s. He was wearing a longer grey pea coat,” she said.
The student, who attempted to file a report with CPSO and was turned away, described the attack: “It was the Wednesday of finals week [Dec. 7]; I want to say between 3 and 4 p.m.,” she said. “I was walking from Smith [Memorial Student Union] over to my apartment, the Vue, to let a friend in my parking garage. I was on the phone with her while I was walking over, and once I got on the sidewalk I passed a man.
“I went up the stairs that are by the water fountain in front of the building and noticed he was coming up behind me. I used a keycard to get into the door, and he followed me in.”
The student stated she didn’t initially find the man unusual or out of place.
“When I saw him on the street originally he struck me as someone that worked in the area or something,” she said.
According to the student, the man appeared to be on a cell phone, but he hung up and followed her down to the basement and into the parking garage.
“He grabbed my arm, turned me around and instantly started apologizing for startling me and kept saying, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, but you are so pretty.’”
She stated she tried to avoid and ignore the man, but he continued to pursue her.
“He then touched my arm again and kind of got in my face. He started questioning me about what my major was, if I went to PSU and all these random questions pertaining to my life. Every time I moved away he got closer and was continuously touching my right arm and grabbing at my hips while repeatedly telling me I was pretty.”
The student was able to safely avoid further confrontation by quickly leaving and entering the car of the friend whom she was originally planning to meet.
The student claims that several friends have also spotted a man on campus who matches her attacker’s description. She said that one of her friends was also questioned by the man while she was working in a university housing building.
After reading the sexual assault article in the Vanguard, the student attempted to file a claim with the CPSO but was turned away.
“I went to the office and called on the red phone that is in the hall and asked if I could be let in because I wanted to report something. Instead of letting me come in, the man on the other end asked me what happened. I told him I was assaulted…He asked me to describe it which made me feel slightly awkward because I was in the open hallway.”
After describing the incident, the student was directed to the Portland Police Bureau because the crime occurred off-campus, however she felt it was still important for CPSO to be aware of the situation and its possible connection to a previous assault.
Phillip Zerzan, director of CPSO, agreed with the student’s privacy concerns. “That’s a legitimate concern, and we’re working on it as fast as we can,” he said.
Currently, the CPSO office is undergoing renovation in order to correct this problem. Zerzan said that once construction is complete, there will be a 24-hour reception area inside the CPSO office. Additionally, the dispatch station will be moving into the CPSO offices.
Zerzan stated that Sergeant Michael Anderson has now been assigned to the student’s report.
“Sometimes the dots don’t get connected,” Zerzan said, “and we’re making sure to make sure they always do.”
campus who matches her attacker’s description. She said that one of her friends was also questioned by the man while she was working in a university housing building.
After reading the sexual assault article in the Vanguard, the student attempted to file a claim with the CPSO but was turned away.
“I went to the office and called on the red phone that is in the hall and asked if I could be let in because I wanted to report something. Instead of letting me come in, the man on the other end asked me what happened. I told him I was assaulted…He asked me to describe it, which made me feel slightly awkward because I was in the open hallway.”
After describing the incident, the student was directed to the Portland Police Bureau because the crime occurred off-campus, however she felt it was still important for CPSO to be aware of the situation and its possible connection to a previous assault.
Phillip Zerzan, director of CPSO, agreed with the student’s privacy concerns. “That’s a legitimate concern, and we’re working on it as fast as we can,” he said.
Currently, the CPSO office is undergoing renovation in order to correct this problem. Zerzan said that once construction is complete, there will be a 24-hour reception area inside the CPSO office. Additionally, the dispatch station will be moving into the CPSO offices.
Zerzan stated that Sergeant Michael Anderson has now been assigned to the student’s report.
“Sometimes the dots don’t get connected,” Zerzan said, “and we’re making sure to make sure they always do.”
Oh come on CPSO, give me a break! Zerzan’s comment, “That’s a legitimate concern, and we’re working on it as fast as we can,” is really just another way of saying “yeah yeah, we’ll look into it (not really sucker!)” I feel bad for this student, though I’m not surprise. This campus’s CPSO always has a reputation for being the worse–sensitivity level is extremely low year after year. How many times have you heard some students complain about CPSO and every year they always said, “we’re working on it,” or “we’re extremely understaffed” blah blah…I have several encounter with CPSO and I agree that when it comes to helping students, look elsewhere because that’s not what CPSO is here for. Try having them on the phone for more than 2 minutes with a real concern, you’ll get a curt, apathetic response from one of their dispatcher. I got hung up on by CPSO dispatcher before when I ask them about building closing hours since I usually work late at the library. Females protect yourselves because your student-funded CPSO is not going to!
Thank you! It wasn’t until I went to the Portland police that they paid me any mind. I think the only reason why they did was because they got in trouble by the officers that took my report. Even when they called me I barely got an apology.
Students should always report crime to the police. Universities have to keep a record and publish that information. It reflects poorly on them when there is a trend or serious incident and they have a vested interest in keeping the police and the media out. I live by UP and there was a student raped at the end of my block. It was reported to the campus security. They are not police and really should not be the first call to make when a crime is committed. They should be notified, of course. Their first loyalty is to the college. I’m not saying they would want to see anyone hurt, but if they can keep the police and the media out, they will. Always report crime to the police.
Yes, I had every intention of going to the police regardless. The reason why I wanted to speak with CPSO was because I thought there was a link between my story and the other women’s and thought the information might be helpful to them.