UGA police investigating report of East Campus rape
University of Georgia police are investigating an allegation of rape on campus, the fourth since last Oct. 1.
Chief Jimmy Williamson said the most recent case involved two people who knew each other.
And, he said, the department doesn't know the names of the other three victims because those cases were reported by the campus medical center and not the women. Federal law requires employees of colleges to report any student's claim of rape -- even if no police case is opened -- so the information can be included in campus crime statistics.
"It's different than a city or county," Williamson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
All four women said they knew their attackers and it happened on campus in a dorm, Williamson said.
"I don’t have a stranger out there looking and preying on people," Williamson said. "It's not someone walking down the street and somebody jumping out of the bushes."
The first assault reported by campus health services was on Oct. 1 at Mell Hall. The second "third-party" report was Oct. 13 at Creswell Hall.
A woman told staff at health services on Jan. 22 that she was sexually assaulted in a dorm in the East Campus Village, which is where the fourth woman said she was raped Sunday morning.
Williamson said health services staff reported the Sunday attack and then a local hospital filed a report because the student went for more treatment. While at the hospital she agreed to talk with police, Williamson said.
"The majority of rapes we see are acquaintance rapes," Williamson said.
"When you look at national statistics, 80 percent of rapes are by someone the woman knows," the chief said. "They [the victim and the attacker] are known to each other. They are willing to be together as for going out on a date or meeting at a party. There may be some form of courting. What ends up is the expectations are different."
