San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec




San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

Timeline: Sexual assault at SDSU

Timeline%3A+Sexual+assault+at+SDSU
Monica Linzmeier

The San Diego State Police Department reports there have been 13 sexual assaults this semester, but it does not take into account several assaults. There have been 19 sexual assaults reported to SDSU police, including two mandatory reports that did not occur near SDSU.

Mandatory reports include reports from hospital or residence hall staff.

A total of 17 alleged sexual assaults near SDSU were reported to SDSU police this semester.

Lt. Randy Lawrence said SDSU police doesn’t include in its count sexual assaults in which the victim was not identified, which is sometimes the case with mandatory reports, because information is limited and police can’t investigate.

Lawrence said most sexual assault cases become inactive, meaning a report is filled and evidence is kept until the woman assaulted wishes to prosecute and move forward with an investigation.

Below is a timeline of sexual-assault related events or reports curated with information available. Several events and initiatives show student or university efforts to combat sexual assault.

Aug. 28

An alleged rape occurred at a fraternity house on College Place.

Aug. 29

Calpulli Center reported a sexual assault after a student visited the center.

Sexual Harrassment
Jenna Mackey, Photo Editor

Sept. 1

An SDSU student was allegedly sexually assaulted in a bathroom during an off-campus party on College Avenue at approximately 12:30 a.m. SDSU police released a crime alert describing the suspect. San Diego Police Department is investigating.

Sept. 6

An SDSU student was allegedly sexually assaulted at approximately 1:40 a.m. at The Granada on Hardy Apartments after an unknown man followed her into her apartment. The suspect fled when a roommate arrived. SDSU police released a crime alert describing the suspect.

Sept. 14

An SDSU student was allegedly sexually assaulted at the on-campus Villa Alvarado Apartments. According to SDSU police records, the assault included sexual penetration with a foreign object. The student didn’t want police involved.

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Kristian Carreon, Senior Staff Photographer

Sept. 18

Approximately a dozen students rallied in front of Hepner Hall to bring awareness to the sexual assaults reported in September and advocate for the affirmative consent bill Gov. Jerry Brown signed on Sept.20.

Sept. 20

An SDSU student was allegedly raped at the Cuicacalli Suites by another SDSU student she knew. The man was interviewed, but he was not arrested. The assault was reported after the woman visited Sharp Grossmont Hospital, where the hospital’s Sexual Assault Response Team conducted a DNA, toxicology and biological examination that was given to SDSU police.

Another woman was allegedly raped at a fraternity house. Alcohol was a factor, SDSUPD Capt. Josh Mays said. The rape was reported on Sept. 22 after the woman visited Calpulli Center. She didn’t want police involved.

Sept. 25

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Kristian Carreon, Senior Staff Photographer

Concerned Students of SDSU gathered nearly 30 students in front of Hepner Hall after another sexual assault report and as Gov. Brown’s Sept. 30 deadline to sign the affirmative consent bill neared. The students marched to Manchester Hall, where they spoke to SDSU’s Title IX Coordinator Jessica Rentto. She informed the demonstrators of SDSU’s Sexual Violence Task Force and a student survey being developed for the spring to better understand the issue on campus. The students left behind a letter for President Elliot Hirshman to voice their concerns.

A non-SDSU student allegedly raped an SDSU student at the Cuicacalli Suites. Mays said the two individuals knew each other prior to the assault. The case is at the district attorney’s office for review of charges.

Oct. 17

As law requires, a residence hall staff member reported a rape. The staff member told SDSU police the woman didn’t want to be identified nor did she want to press charges.

Oct. 20

A rape that occurred in downtown San Diego was reported to SDSU police after the woman visited Calpulli Center. The woman didn’t want police involved.

Oct. 22

NEWS_tealribbon_notsure
Stephanie Saccente, Senior Staff Writer

A social aimed at educating faculty and staff about SDSU’s efforts to combat sexual assault was hosted in the courtyard of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.

Get Together, Give Back Fall Social participants wore teal ribbons, emblems of sexual violence prevention, to support SDSU’s Teal Ribbon Campaign, which creates awareness about sexual assault. Attendees wrote their reasons to wear a teal ribbon on notes hung around the student union.

Oct. 25

News_ZapotecHernandez
David Hernandez, News Editor

An SDSU student was allegedly raped at Zapotec Residence Hall. The woman knew the suspect, who is not a college student, although it is unclear to what extent, Mays said. SDSUPD is investigating and spoke to the suspect.

Another student was allegedly raped at a fraternity house on College Place. Alcohol was a factor, Mays said. The woman didn’t want police involved.

Oct. 27

An alleged rape that occurred in San Bernardino was reported to SDSU police. The case was referred to the local city’s police department.

Oct. 31

An SDSU student was allegedly raped at a fraternity house on College Place. She reported the assault to SDSU police on Nov. 6.

Nov. 5

Callpulli Center reported that a student who visited the health center was sexually assaulted in mid-October. Lt. Randy Lawrence said SDSU police investigated and it appeared an assault did not occur.

Nov. 12

Professor Jeffrey Bucholtz, co-president of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council and member of SDSU’s Sexual Violence Task Force, presented “Yes! Yes! Yes! A Conversation About Consent and Sexual Violence.” His talk focused on the ways culture influence sexual violence. Associated Students sponsored the seminar.

Nov. 15

A rape allegedly occurred at a fraternity. Alcohol was a factor, Mays said. SDSUPD is investigating. The victim didn’t want police involved.

Nov. 18

An alleged rape that occurred in Pacific Beach was reported to SDSU police after the woman visited Calpulli Center. SDPD is handling the case.

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Kalie Christensen, Staff Photographer

Nov. 19

SDSU held two sexual assault forum sessions in Montezuma Hall of the student union. SDSU police and Sexual Violence Task Force members engaged in dialogue with students. Participants split up into groups that talked about different aspects, such as campus culture.

An alleged sexual assault involving oral copulation occurred at a fraternity house on College Place.

Nov. 21

Concerned Students of SDSU, along with other students, held an anti-rape rally. The group claims fraternity members yelled obscenities and waved sex toys during the rally. As a result, the InterFraternity Council suspended social events to better educate its members about sexual assault.

Nov. 23 

A woman was allegedly raped at a fraternity on Hardy Avenue. Mays said alcohol was a factor and the individuals were somewhat acquainted. The assault was reported after the woman visited Sharp Grossmont Hospital. SDSUPD released a crime alert describing the suspect.

Dec. 6

An alleged sexual assault involving oral copulation occurred on College Avenue.

Dec. 9

IMG_0072
Kristian Carreon, Senior Staff Photographer

Concerned Students of SDSU marched from Hepner Hall to Manchester Hall, where they read their demands to university officials and spoke with Rentto about how the university is addressing the issue.

At approximately 2:30 p.m. Francisco Sousa, an SDSU student, was arrested in connection with the sexual assault that occurred on Dec. 6. He is being held in the San Diego Central Jail.

About the Contributors
David Hernandez, News Editor
David Hernandez is news editor of The Daily Aztec. He joined the newspaper in 2012 and has previously been a staff writer, copy editor and blogger. He will graduate in May 2015 with a B.A. in journalism and minor in Spanish.
Chadd Cady, Senior Staff Photographer
Monica Linzmeier, Editor in Chief
Monica Linzmeier has worked for The Daily Aztec since 2011 serving as a photographer, writer, photo editor and finally Editor in Chief. She is majoring in Journalism and French.  Monica focuses on multi-media journalism and is looking to go into international reporting after graduation.
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Timeline: Sexual assault at SDSU