Sexual Assaults Near OSU Campus: Multiple sexual assaults reported in Corvallis over the last two weeks

One in four women experience sexual assault by the time they reach their college graduation. According to the Bureau of Justice’s recent Campus Climate Survey Validation Study, the highest percentage of sexual assaults occur during the month of October.

This October, two sexual assault cases in proximity to OSU have been reported to Corvallis police and are under investigation. Another incident occurred over the weekend in Corvallis unrelated to OSU. There are currently two rape cases under investigation that occurred over the weekend.

One rape was reported on the 700 block of Southwest Chickadee Street on Saturday, Oct. 29, around 11 p.m.

Another assault reportedly took place at one of OSU’s fraternities near campus either late Friday, Oct. 28, or early Saturday morning.

“At this point I don’t have anything to release; it’s an ongoing, open investigation,” said Lt. Dan Duncan of the reported OSU-related assault. The investigation listed the incident as “rape first-degree”; it was reported around 1 a.m. Saturday morning on the 800 block of Southwest Madison Avenue.  

Duncan said release of further information could harm the investigation.

LBCC’s Public Safety office was notified by police and issued a safety warning to LBCC students.

“We thought it was worth notifying our students that there was a threat going on and they should exercise safety precaution,” said Marcene Olson, safety and loss prevention director of LBCC.

Olson said the close proximity of the LBCC Benton Center and amount of dually enrolled students means LBCC students could be affected by the threat.

Earlier in the month, OSU students received a similar email brief from OSU’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) regarding another attack.

On Oct. 16, a male suspect reported to be in his early-20s entered a private residence through an open door and sexually assaulted an OSU student. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Northwest 23rd Avenue.

All reports are currently under investigation and no connection between the events has been announced.

In 2015, OSU opened the Survivor Advocacy and Resource Center and has received media praise for the recent attempts to improve how it deals with campus-related sexual assault. See the Huffington Post’s article here.

OSU DPS warned students to travel in groups at night, keep doors and windows locked, and to use SafeRide on the OSU campus, as well as DPS escort services. SafeRide operates from 7 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. in Corvallis and Philomath seven days a week and is available to any OSU student. Their services are available through the SafeRideOSU, an app downloadable at Google Play or the iTunes Store.

LBCC campus security also provides an escort service and a safety app available on Google Play and iTunes. They can be reached 24/7 at 542-926-6855.

Story by Emily Goodykoontz