William Paterson University Student After Alleged Campus Sex Assault: 'It's Frightening ... To Run To Your Car'

Following the news of an alleged sexual assault on campus, William Paterson student Ashley Ramirez writes how she feels about the situation:

There’s nothing like a Monday morning on campus filled with press and panicked students. The troubling news of a William Paterson University student allegedly raped by five young men in a dorm room last week is alarming to all. This is the second sexual assault reported on a state university campus within a month. Yet, some residents on campus were not as distressed by the situation with the lack of security in entering the residence halls.

This is my first semester in which I don’t have evening classes, and the parking situation can be difficult at times, leaving young women to sprint across campus during the night. W.P.U prides itself for its 370- acre wooded campus, but it’s frightening as a woman to run to your car or dorm room especially from Hobart Hall in a dim and unsecured area.

President Waldron released a statement Sunday evening to students and staff stating, “My deepest concern is for the victim of this criminal act who has courageously stepped forward to take legal action and seek justice. No expression of anger or sadness on my part can alleviate the harm done to the victim and my heart goes out to her and her family.”

It’s a saddening time for the W.P.U community around campus, and my thoughts and condolences go out to the brave victim and her family. Its times as these that we must come together as a community and be proactive in assuring that this will never happen again. What are the next steps that will be taken to assure the safety around campus? We receive countless alerts for bear sightings and road closings throughout campus, but what will happen now? As a society we must never become accustomed or immune to these reoccurring crimes on campuses.

More on the alleged William Paterson sex assault case:

• Men Arrested in William Paterson Sexual Assault Case Plead Not Guilty
• Men Accused of Blocking Doorway in Alleged William Paterson Sex Assault Case
• Five William Paterson University Students Arrested for Sexual Assault of Female Student