Afraid of the Dark: Sexual Assault on Campus

By Broadside Staff Writer David Pierce

UPDATED AT 7:43 p.m. Oct. 29: Assistant Chief of Police Major Ginovsky has stated that the assault claims were unfounded and falsified, and that no part of it was true. In an interview on the afternoon of Sunday, October 26, the woman told police that she had lied.

Givnosky advises students not to falsify police reports. There is no decision on a criminal charge yet, but the woman is being referred to the Dean of Students.

UPDATED AT 2:04 p.m. Oct. 29: Assistant Chief of Police Major Ginovsky has confirmed that the entire sexual assault story was "false."

A George Mason University student was sexually assaulted on Oct. 17 while walking near the loading dock of Student Union Building II.

According to an e-mail alert sent to the Mason community by Major George Ginovsky of the University Police Department, the assault occurred between 10:40 and 10:45 p.m. The victim, whose name has not been released, was not seriously injured, according to the e-mail alert. Ginovsky would not go into further detail in regards to the extent of injuries. The victim was reportedly assaulted by two black males. Ginovsky explained that the victim told police she observed one of the suspects having a handgun in his waistband.

“I think he took [the gun] out of the waistband and put it in his pocket,” said Ginovsky, regarding the victim’s statement.

The University Police would not inform Broadside of the exact time the victim reported the incident, but it was reported early Saturday morning. The police department did not send the e-mail alert to the Mason community until 1:59 p.m. the following Monday, almost 60 hours after it was added to its blotter. The Clery Act requires schools to immediately notify the community about “a significant emergency or dangerous situation that threatens the health or safety of people on campus.” The majority of students interviewed felt the delay in sending the alert out was a problem. Recent Mason graduate John Lavoie was surprised at news of the assault.

“That is completely ridiculous,” said Lavoie of the delay. Sophomore Tessa Candiff, biology major, believed the police should have taken a day, at the most, to inform the Mason community of the incident. Graduate student Matthew Moakler, concentrating in biodefense, had concern for the students living on campus.

“There was a whole weekend where [resident students] were out [and could have been harmed],” said Moakler. Graduate student Andrew Walker, concentrating on geography and cartographic science, believed there was no wrongdoing on the part of the police.

“The victim waited a while to report the incident; the threat had passed,” said Walker.

When asked why there was a delay in sending the e-mail alert, Ginovsky said the victim did not immediately report the crime, but there was room for improvement within the police department.

“[The police] have looked at our procedures and we will put future alerts out in a more timely manner,” said Ginovsky.

He declined to explain what the department considered a more timely manner. The date and time of the incident in the original e-mail alert was incorrect, stating it happened at 2:40 a.m. Saturday morning. Ginovsky sent a correction e-mail soon afterwards.

The alert initially described the incident as an assault, but not the general nature of it. Freshman Brittany Higgs, astronomy major and resident student, understood why the police did not initially say it was a sexual assault in the alert e-mail.

“I can understand why they would not [say it was sexual] as it is personal for the girl, but it is important for us to know,” said Higgs. Moakler believed the police department should have gone into further detail.

“I wondered what the assault was; I did not know it was a sexual assault at first,” said Moakler.

Ginovsky said the police investigation revealed there could possibly be witnesses to the crime. He said the police learned there were voices heard near the loading dock of SUB II.

“Please come forward if you were around [SUB II] between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m. on Friday,” said Ginovsky. He advised students to call the crime tip line at (703) 993-4111, or send the police an e-mail through their Web site, if they have information.

Most students interviewed were surprised the sexual assault happened, a few citing the lack of police presence on campus as a reason. Higgs, while admitting she has not had the need to look for a police officer, she has not seen the police walking around campus either. Candiff said she saw the police mostly in their patrol cars.

“I’ve only seen one [officer] in the Johnson Center,” said Candiff. Lavoie had advice for both the police and students.

“I’m sure the police work hard and are doing their job, but we need to work with them to create a safer campus,” said Lavoie. Walker believed the assault was not a result of a lack of police presence.

“They are not going to have officers in all buildings,” said Walker, adding that he sees police on campus all the time. Ginovsky said that students do see police in their patrol cars the most, but he did not believe there was a correlation between a possible lack of police presence and the sexual assault.

“There is not a cause and effect between the [police] presence and the assault,” said Ginovsky.

Sexual Assault Services,, located in the Student Union Building I room 214M, helps students who are victims. Connie Kirkland, the Director of the Sexual Assault Services, described her office’s mission.

“The Sexual Assault Services is a place where any student who has been affected by a sexual assault could come for support and information,” said Kirkland. She also said the office provides free and confidential crisis intervention and legal medical assistance.

There have been four on-campus sexual assaults and seven off-campus assaults since the beginning of the fall 2008 semester. Ginovsky said that students should call both the Sexual Assault Services and the University Police if they are assaulted but made it clear to call the police first.

“The police are the only people that investigate these things,” said Ginovsky.

When asked how students could protect themselves on campus, Ginovsky referred to the e-mail alert he sent.

“When walking on campus at night, all are encouraged to not walk alone, stay in well-lighted areas, and to use the Escort Service,” said Ginovsky. He said that weapons such as guns and knives were not allowed on campus for student protection, citing university regulation 8VAC3560, but that students could carry mace.

“[The regulation] does not prohibit chemical sprays, but it does not encourage it,” said Ginovsky.

The University Police would not comment regarding why the victim was walking around the SUB II loading dock, however he encouraged students to use the Escort Service, a program offered by the police department where they will safely walk students to a location if called. The Escort Service can be reached at (703) 993-2800.