PENN STATE, UNIVERSITY PARK - Two sexual assaults in just three days on Penn State's main campus.
The first attack allegedly happened overnight Thursday in the university's Pollock/South Residence Hall Area. The second was reported on the west side of campus Saturday.
These assaults aren't the first to happen on Penn State's University Park campus, but students say they're shocked to hear about more than one happening in the same weekend.
Statistics show one in four women will be the victim of an attempted or completed sexual assault during her time in college.
"Hearing that something like that happens on the college campus definitely is scary to know," Natalie Zuravleff said.
Penn State sophomore Natalie Zuravleff says despite the facts, hearing that it's happening on her campus is shocking.
"The fact that they happened on campus is definitely strange to hear because I live off campus and I definitely worry about off campus being the more dangerous place, so to hear about it on campus is definitely weird," she said.
Campus Police say the first assault happened on the southern end of campus between 11 PM Thursday and 5 AM Friday, and the second was reported on the west side of campus between 2 and 3:30 Saturday morning. Police say both victims reported knowing their attacker.
"I've seen inappropriate behavior, but I've never really seen it to that extent," Jacob Marten said.
Something sophomore Jacob Marten says he can't believe.
"I just thought it's a travesty. I think Penn State is a lot better than that," he said. "I think that Penn State has done a pretty good job fostering what's appropriate and what's not and I think it's just a real shame."
The topic of sexual assault is nothing new for the State College community, but the reality of who it can happen to is something Anne Ard thinks is important to understand.
"A sexual assault of a 20 year old, or a 30 year old, or a 60 year old, or a 70 year old is as heinous as a sexual assault of a child and until we as a community decide that we're going to not just end sexual assault of children, but we're going to end sexual assault completely, across the lifespan, then we're missing the mark," Ard said.
Sexual assault/rape is a crime University Park is familiar with.
Last year, 20 sex-related assaults were reported on the campus of Penn State. The Uniform Crime Reporting system shows only 11, just over half of the campus assaults, were solved.
Two other assaults were reported in downtown State College over the weekend as well.
State College Police say a woman reported being inappropriately touched on the dance floor of Indigo Nightclub early Saturday morning by an unknown male.
The second assault was reported to police late Saturday afternoon. The woman reported being sexually assaulted by a male known to her. The specific location of that alleged assault could not be confirmed.
All four of these investigations are ongoing at this time and police urge anyone with information to call.
The first attack allegedly happened overnight Thursday in the university's Pollock/South Residence Hall Area. The second was reported on the west side of campus Saturday.
These assaults aren't the first to happen on Penn State's University Park campus, but students say they're shocked to hear about more than one happening in the same weekend.
Statistics show one in four women will be the victim of an attempted or completed sexual assault during her time in college.
"Hearing that something like that happens on the college campus definitely is scary to know," Natalie Zuravleff said.
Penn State sophomore Natalie Zuravleff says despite the facts, hearing that it's happening on her campus is shocking.
"The fact that they happened on campus is definitely strange to hear because I live off campus and I definitely worry about off campus being the more dangerous place, so to hear about it on campus is definitely weird," she said.
Campus Police say the first assault happened on the southern end of campus between 11 PM Thursday and 5 AM Friday, and the second was reported on the west side of campus between 2 and 3:30 Saturday morning. Police say both victims reported knowing their attacker.
"I've seen inappropriate behavior, but I've never really seen it to that extent," Jacob Marten said.
Something sophomore Jacob Marten says he can't believe.
"I just thought it's a travesty. I think Penn State is a lot better than that," he said. "I think that Penn State has done a pretty good job fostering what's appropriate and what's not and I think it's just a real shame."
The topic of sexual assault is nothing new for the State College community, but the reality of who it can happen to is something Anne Ard thinks is important to understand.
"A sexual assault of a 20 year old, or a 30 year old, or a 60 year old, or a 70 year old is as heinous as a sexual assault of a child and until we as a community decide that we're going to not just end sexual assault of children, but we're going to end sexual assault completely, across the lifespan, then we're missing the mark," Ard said.
Sexual assault/rape is a crime University Park is familiar with.
Last year, 20 sex-related assaults were reported on the campus of Penn State. The Uniform Crime Reporting system shows only 11, just over half of the campus assaults, were solved.
Two other assaults were reported in downtown State College over the weekend as well.
State College Police say a woman reported being inappropriately touched on the dance floor of Indigo Nightclub early Saturday morning by an unknown male.
The second assault was reported to police late Saturday afternoon. The woman reported being sexually assaulted by a male known to her. The specific location of that alleged assault could not be confirmed.
All four of these investigations are ongoing at this time and police urge anyone with information to call.
