 "Photo: Lucio Villa/Poly Post")
 "Photo: Lucio Villa/Poly Post")
University Police are investigating if there is a connection between two assaults against females on campus Wednesday.
The most recent incident occurred in parking Lot M around 8 p.m. when a female student was walking to her car and an unidentified person grabbed her around the neck and shoulders, according to a crime bulletin from the University Police.
A bystander in the area allegedly yelled out and spooked the attacker, who then fled the scene. The female student then continued to her car and drove off before calling University Police. Her only injury was an abrasion on her face.
The initial assault occurred at 8:28 a.m. when a 21-year-old female student collapsed in the Admissions Office on the second floor of the CLA building from a stab wound to her stomach.
"We don't think they are related. There are similarities in each case, but there is also a few subtle differences in each case," said Chief of University Police Michael Guerin. "The investigators, as they look at witness statements, victim statements, the scene, look at what little physical evidence there is, they kind of have to make some judgments of what they think. Right now we don't see anything that is directly related, but that's not saying they are connected."
The woman was attacked in the bathroom and pulled out a pocketknife to protect her, and suffered a stab wound to her abdomen from the struggle, according to a crime bulletin from University Police.
The woman was not a student and said to be visiting someone she knew in the building, said Uyen Mai, university spokeswoman.
Guerin said comparing suspect descriptions would be helpful in making a connection between the two incidents.
"We have zero suspect descriptions. That is a big piece of the puzzle that's missing," he said. "We don't want to convey sense that they are the same physical attack because we don't know that."
Guerin does not believe there is danger for future attacks.
"We don't feel that there is a specific continuing list of [this/these attacker(s)] on campus," he said. "I think there is a background risk. Somebody is doing these attacks. You must always be aware."
University police will have an increased presence on campus during the day and evening until they decide it is no longer necessary. Mai reported that outside law enforcement helicopters will be flying over campus with a spotlight as an extra precaution.
Campus-wide e-mails have been the primary form of communication to the university about the two incidences, but some students are unaware of what is going on.
"I haven't checked my e-mail in a few hours," said Julianne Tres, a third-year kinesiology student who had not heard about the more recent attack in Lot M.
Tres' friend, Jennifer Berdan, a second-year zoology student, had not heard of the second assault either. Berdan said she had heard about the first incident in the CLA and had her male lab partner escort her to her car in Lot M after their Wednesday evening laboratory class.
"I'm really glad he walked me to car now," Berdan said.
The buddy system and campus escorts are two solutions the university is stressing for student safety.
Some students believe the university should do more to make students aware of what is going on though.
"Professors should announce it in class," said Natahlie Gonzalez, a third-year pre-veterinary student. "I'm paranoid about this event."
Arin Stieringer, a senior industrial chemistry student, believes there is more known than what is being relayed however.
"I think they should stop playing it down and tell the truth. It's OK to be scared sometimes," said Stieringer. "We should be more well-informed."
Mai reaffirmed news coming from the university is as complete as possible.
"We are not trying to hide anything from the campus community," she said. "I'm not saying we are the epitome of quick communication. We are certainly learning from yesterday's incident."
Outside agencies like ABC were on campus around 3 p.m. today with coverage on Thursday evening's news. Other media stations were also expected to come throughout the afternoon according to Mai.
The Post will continue with in-depth articles as information is relayed and the investigation unfolds.
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