Boston University may consider reviewing its Guest Policy after a female visitor to Warren Towers reported she was sexually assaulted in a bathroom early Sunday morning, according to campus police.
After the report, the BU Police Department spoke with officials at Northeastern University, which has a similar policy for visitors, said BUPD Sgt. Jack St. Hilaire.
“It wouldn’t be fair to start pointing fingers,” he said. “[Northeastern has not] had a problem with it, and their policy is similar to ours.”
Because it is unknown if the suspect is a BU student, the Guest Policy cannot be connected to the alleged assault, St. Hilaire said. The victim reported she was attacked in the bathroom of the all-girl 16th floor of Shields Tower at 3:30 a.m. Sunday.
Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore proposed his Guest Policy last semester, responding to students who complained for years of early swipe-in hours and strict overnight policies. President Robert Brown swiftly signed off on the policy, which had received widespread support from students and administrators.
The Student Union does not think the new Guest Policy contributed to the alleged assault because the old policy still allowed for late-night visitors with a roommate’s signature, said Union Vice President John Grant.
“There are more important issues unresolved, and there’s an obvious culprit who is to blame, that being the perpetrator,” the CAS junior said. “It’s obviously an extremely disheartening circumstance that you hope would never happen.”
Grant said the Union has discussed the lack of an amnesty policy, which may encourage students to come forward about incidents involving alcohol if they are not disciplined for drinking.
“[Sexual assault is] a new forefront that we have to address,” he said.
Julianne Bisceglia, who lives on the 10th floor of Shields Tower, said she does not think the policy should be changed, but said students need to think twice before bringing strangers into dorms.
“I find it offensive and disrespectful that people are irresponsibly signing in people they don’t know,” the College of Arts and Sciences freshman said. “It threatens me, my friends and everyone living in the dorm.
“I don’t think it’s reasonable to say that I feel completely safe in Warren given the simple fact that so many people live here with such a lenient Guest Policy, especially in a big city like Boston,” she added.
Warren resident Nikhil Shah said his floormates on the 6th floor of Marshall Tower do not feel threatened, adding the blame should not be shifted to the Guest Policy.
“The sexual assault that happened here was clearly an awful thing,” the CAS freshman said. “You can’t blame this on the Guest Policy or security not being tight enough. There are so many other schools with similar policies, but unfortunately something awful happened here.”
Danielsen Hall resident Jill Warzynski said she was shocked an assault could have taken place because Warren security guards are “very strict about not letting people in that aren’t affiliated with the university.”
“I remember last year when I lived in Warren, the [resident assistants] told us, ‘Don’t sign in anyone you don’t know,'” the CAS sophomore said. “Someone actually last year asked me to sign them in, and I [told them], ‘I don’t know you.'”
College of Communication freshman Rachel Levi said she does not think the Guest Policy should be changed because security is already intense, even for residents.
“I have a hard enough time getting into Warren, and I live there,” the 7C resident said.While some students think security is especially strict, College of General Studies freshman Priyanka Kotadia said although she feels safe in her Sleeper Hall residence, she said security guards barely glance at student IDs when they swipe into buildings.
Mike Morrison, a CAS freshman who lives on 7C, said he does not feel unsafe at Warren, but understands why female students may worry.
“Girls should be able to feel safe about going to the bathroom at night,” he said. “Security has been stepped up, but at Warren, let’s face it: They can’t be everywhere. That’s why all students should be vigilant at all times and watch each others’ backs.”
Elmore did not respond to phone messages yesterday.
Lisa Davis, Vivian Ho, Hannah McBride and Matt Negrin contributed reporting for this article.
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