Student allegedly raped in dorm by fellow student

A female University student was allegedly raped by a male student in a University dormitory this weekend, police said yesterday. The female student told police that she knew the University student who allegedly raped her. She said the incident occurred around 2 a.m. Saturday, and she reported the incident to University Police the same day, according University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich. Kuprevich, who said the incident is under investigation by University Police, said yesterday "we certainly have a suspect." Charges have not yet been filed against the suspect, who Kuprevich declined to identify, and he has not been arrested. Kuprevich also refused to release detailed information on the incident, saying the department is in the process of investigating the matter. He also said the woman who reported the incident asked that specific information be withheld. According to Kuprevich, the Philadelphia Sex Crimes Division was notified about the incident. Kuprevich did not say what dormitory the rape reportedly occurred in, adding that the woman felt that releasing the location would reveal her identity. Barbara Cassel, executive assistant to the vice provost for University Life, said yesterday that the Judicial Inquiry Office has not yet begun to investigate the incident. Victim Services, the division of University Police which handles such cases, can find new housing for the woman if needed, police said. The woman was taken by University Police to Thomas Jefferson Hospital for examination and released later the same day, according to Kuprevich. The hospital, through an agreement with the city, operates a special crisis center whose doctors and nurses are specially trained to handle sex-crime cases. Doctors at the center collect evidence and are trained to be witnesses if they are needed to testify at a trial, according to Kuprevich. Derek Goodman, executive board member of Students Together Against Aquaintance Rape, said yesterday night, "It takes an incredible amount of courage to report something like this." Goodman, who did not know about the incident, said that "survivors" are given information about STAAR, but that STAAR is not given the name or information from University Police about the victim. "The most immediate thing is to attend to the survivor's needs and make sure she is okay," Goodman said. "If she wants to pursue it legally, that would be the next step." According to Goodman, there have been fewer than a half-dozen aquaintance rapes reported to his group this semester. Victims Support Services Director Ruth Wells was out of town and could not be reached for comment last night.

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