A female reported to the University on Oct. 19 that she was sexually assaulted near the Quad around midnight on Oct. 7, according to a press release from the University.
The reported perpetrator was described as "a white male with short blond or light brown curly hair (tight on the sides), approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall, lean but muscular, with distinctive tattoos. His tattoos included a large black dragon tattoo on his left pectoral muscle, and two arm sleeve tattoos of marijuana leaves on his forearms. He was wearing red and white pajama pants, a white tank top and Nike Air Jordans."
Susan McCallister, associate director of information and education for emergency management, said if a student knows or sees someone matching this description, he or she should contact the Auburn Police or send information to the police through their Auburn Crime Stoppers tip line. They should not try to confront the individual themselves.
Sexual assault survivors are encouraged to report incidents to both the University and the police, McCallister said. She stressed that the police are the only entity that can investigate a sexual assault for the means of criminal prosecution.
If a complaint is made to the University, investigators will conduct an investigation to determine if the reported perpetrator violated the University's Title IX policy.
"If the reported perpetrator is a University student, employee or other affiliate, such as a contractor, and he or she is determined to be responsible for violating the Title IX Policy, the university can take action against that individual up to and including expulsion for students or termination for employees," McCallister said.
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity, according to the U.S. Department of Justice's website.
Students and faculty usually receive a couple of these emails every semester, McCallister said.
"Generally, we send only one or two public safety notices per semester," McCallister said. "This is the first notice related to a sexual assault that has been sent out this semester. We did send two notices in August related to reports of individuals who believed they were given a drug against their will."
The University encourages sexual assault survivors to contact Safe Harbor at 334-844-7233 or Rape Counselors of East Alabama at 334-705-0510, according to the press release.
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