The Clemson University Police Department (CUPD) is investigating a reported sexual assault that occurred on Thursday, Oct. 3 between the hours of 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. at the Robert Muldrow Cooper Library.
In response to this incident, CUPD has increased uniformed patrols in and around the library and conducted area canvasses to identify any potential suspects. CUPD detectives are actively reviewing all available video footage from the surrounding area, coordinating with local law enforcement partners and interviewing all potential witnesses.
CUPD is asking anyone with additional information or who observed suspicious activity in or around Cooper Library on Oct. 3 to please contact the department at 864-656-2222.
CUPD would like to remind the campus community of the following safety tips:
- Report suspicious persons or activity to CUPD immediately.
- Utilize the Tiger Transit shuttle service between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Rides can be requested using the My.Clemson app under the “Transit” tab.
- Be an active bystander. Tips for intervening are found at https://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/healthy-campus/aspire/to-intervene.html:
- If you see something, do something. When a threat may be present, active bystanders should intervene if a person is in need of medical assistance, mental health counseling or any other form of assistance. It is important to intervene early before a situation escalates. To keep a safe and healthy culture on campus, everyone must do their part to intervene as active bystanders.
- There are many resources on campus, but you play an important role to help your friends get to resources.
- Bystander skills include:
– Noticing an occurrence out of the ordinary.
– Deciding in your “gut” if something is amiss or unacceptable.
– Asking yourself, “Could I play a role here?”
– Assessing your options for giving help.
– Determining the potential risks of taking action.
– Deciding whether to act – now or later. - If you are the survivor of an assault:
– Try to stay calm and remain alert. Look for situations that you can exploit to your advantage.
– If able, note the characteristics of your assailant and identify a means of escape. Information you recall about your attacker is invaluable to the police in trying to apprehend the criminal.
– Call 911 or, if you are on campus, notify CUPD at 864-656-2222 and seek medical care as soon as possible.
If you’ve been sexually assaulted, there are on- and off-campus resources ready to help you. If you are not ready to report to police or to the University through the Title IX office, visit with a confidential advocate or counselor by contacting Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 864-656-2451. Walk-in patients are accepted at CAPS between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, while counselors are on-call after hours as well. Please remember that survivors are never responsible for the behavior of offenders.