The University of Houston has issued an emergency alert to its students, faculty and staff to be wary of predators after a weeks-old alleged sexual assault came to light.
According to authorities, the occurrence of the alleged assault was conveyed to the university through an email which claimed that a female student was assaulted Oct.16 near Moody Towers Residence Hall. However, the victim has not come forward.
University of Houston Department of Public Safety officials are investigating the matter and have a suspect in sight. This unidentified suspect has been banned from the campus. The authorities are not releasing any more information, citing the sensitivity of the matter.
Due to the incident, no one without a school ID can access student dorms and every room has an automatic lock, abclocal reports.
The university beefed up security after a series of on-campus robberies. Now, with the emergency alert, the university is trying to warn the campus community of a sexual predator on the loose.
Few students who live near Moody Towers spoke to khou.com expressing their concerns over security. Although the 18-story building has cameras outside the dorm rooms, students are worried ever since the emergency text alert was sent by the university.
"It's scary seeing [the alleged attack] was so close to the dorms," said Rebecca Aradiallas, a student who resides in the Tower.
However, students say they are satisfied with the security of the campus.
"Yeah it's scary, but I always see a cop out here and usually they're uptight about safety," said Chelsea Green, a student.
Also, they have their own ways to protect themselves from any impending harm.
"My mom gave me some pepper spray a couple days ago, but I left it at home," Aradiallas added. "So, I'm going to ask her to send it to me."
"I make sure not to walk alone," Jennings said. "I carry my keys in my hand. I carry pepper spray and I try to be as safe as possible."
A university representative who spoke to abclocal has asked students to cooperate with the investigation and has requested them to come forward if they know anything about the alleged sexual assault. As the victim herself has not come forward, the authorities are finding it hard to figure out what exactly happened.
