yorku: Women Sexually Assualted in Dorms

Annie (

explitiveannie) wrote in

yorku,
@ 2007-09-09 10:06:00

Women Sexually Assualted in Dorms

Women sexually assaulted in York University dorms

toronto.ctv.ca

Toronto police are searching for two men after two women were sexually assaulted in dorms at York University.

According to authorities, two men entered Vanier College residence located on Keele Street near Steeles Avenue West in the early hours of Friday morning.

The men discovered a female on her own and sexually assaulted her.

The men later gained access to another dorm room within the same residence and sexually assaulted a second lone woman.

The attackers then entered another room within the same building and attempted to assault a third woman.

The two men tried to enter two other rooms by were scared off and fled the scene.

Police confirm two women were taken to hospital, treated and released. It has yet to be confirmed whether any of the women were students at the university.

The first suspect is described as:

White, with a dark complexion and short dark hair
In his early 20s, 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-7
Wore blue jeans and running shoes

The second suspect is described as:

White, with a slim build
In his early 20s, 6-foot to 6-foot-1
Short, light-colored hair
Wore blue jeans

Security at York University has been heightened since the attacks and police are reminding women to be vigilant with ensuring their personal safety.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-7474, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or online at www.222tips.com.

Take care of yourselves, lock your dorm doors. Remember, as annoying as porters seem to be sometimes, when they're on duty they're there to protect you, but when they're not, keep your doors locked.

Welcome back to campus, ladies and gentlemen.

*annie

(Post a new comment)

	lingrem 2007-09-09 02:26 pm UTC (link)
	That gives SO much more information than the alert on York's website. It's sad how York is getting increasingly unsafe. Stupid ass people! (talking about the assaulters there, they're the stupid ass people) (Reply to this) (Thread)

deathxbyxroses
2007-09-09 04:55 pm UTC (link)

York provided an updated report as of last night that provides all of this information. Their initial report was unspecific due to the police investigation, but the university has since released all of this information as well and the current campus alerts have the detailed event descriptions as well as suspect descriptions.

It is definitely really unfortunate that this happened..

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

lingrem
2007-09-09 08:01 pm UTC (link)

When I read this journal, the York site had not been updated. If it had been then it wasn't updating on my computer even after I hit refresh. After reading this I had gone to York's site again to check and it really hadn't been updated yet. It was sometime after I noticed I had got your comment though!

The first time it was posted up though, that I noticed, was Friday night. I had been out at the Ab that night on campus, and was a bit worried to know that I had gone past and through Vanier numerous times throughout the day and night on Friday and was completely unaware of anything having happened until I was at home. It was sort of an "eep" moment. :/ gotta love the way the school year's started the past two years... poor Vanier.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

fumbled_dreams
2007-09-09 03:05 pm UTC (link)

i feel SO MUCH for all the dons and porters right now, because we put up with so much shit from students about signing guests in and locking doors, and about being vigilant about who was coming in behind you at residence doors.

we didn't just say it to power trip, folks, we said it because we know it's happened before and it'll happen again.

please: LISTEN TO YOUR DONS AND PORTERS, RLC'S AND FELLOW STUDENTS WHEN THEY TELL YOU TO SIGN YOUR GUESTS IN AND WATCH WHO YOU'RE LETTING IN. residence is your home. you don't just leave your front door open for anyone to walk in, do you?

i get so frustrated and scared, really, i do, and i'm not even there anymore.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

deathxbyxroses
2007-09-09 04:59 pm UTC (link)

I agree.
The time it takes to sign your guests in MUST not be seen as an inconvenience. We (the dons, RLCs and porters) are here to keep your home safe! We do the best job we can but it's critical that each and every resident do their part as well, such as locking their doors, NOT LETTING IN STRANGERS BEHIND THEM!!!!, not propping doors open.

It's devastating that this happened, and I really really hope that everyone involved in this is recovering.

This being said, I hope that every student who lives in residence is more vigilant about who they let into their home and the precautions they take to keep themselves and their neighbours safe.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	fumbled_dreams 2007-09-09 03:06 pm UTC (link)
	uh, that being said, i hope the girls are ok. i didn't mean to take away from the severity of the assaults with my rant. (Reply to this)

	doomsdayblaze 2007-09-09 03:11 pm UTC (link)
	It's fucked up how this is increasingly becoming the norm for York. (Reply to this)

thebeast_within
2007-09-09 04:05 pm UTC (link)

I'm really kind of disgusted with York, they try and cover it up as much as they can...and paint themselves in the best light they can in spite of the fact 2 women have just had their world shaken by 2 cowardly bastards. I feel really bad for these 2 girls, and hope they catch the 2 that did it.

Also, so what if York has beefed up their security? Have you seen what they do? They sit in their damn carts or stand around campus walk and check out the hot girls/guys and occasionally wander around to check on things....I feel safer that there will be more ogling already. *sigh*

I really think its time they hire an actual security company to deal with campus security....in light of the whole Jane and Finch thing....and even more than that the frequency that is starting to come of the violence on campus.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

deathxbyxroses
2007-09-09 05:18 pm UTC (link)

I'm not really sure why you say that York is trying to cover this up. They took immediate action, including issuing campus alerts (the first was vague due to the police investigation) but within one day there was a detailed alert. The current campus alert that has been release is no less specific than the media reports on the TV and in the newspapers. They have also doubled security presence in all of the buildings, which includes security officers doing rounds of the residences. The residences also have increased porter hours and increased don presences as well as each of the buildings called emergency house meetings to discuss with residents the incidents that occurred and the safety precautions that are critical to take.

I certainly agree that these women have had their worlds shaken by these two people, and I sincerely hope that the police catch them. These women's lives are indeed forever changed in a really awful way. It also really points out to all of us that the campus is not necessarily a safe place, which is really scary especially for those of us in residence who like to consider our homes pretty secure.

However, the university responded in a way that is not trying to cover anything up. They responded quickly and vigilantly, and those of us who are involved with the residence life teams can affirm that security and the RLCs, dons and porters have had a huge and increased presence in all the buildings. We need to remember that security is EVERYONE'S responsibility and residents need to be vigilant about not letting strangers into their buildings. I think it's absolutely disgusting that this happened and it really is a wake up call to all of us that the campus is not necessarily a safe place and that we all have to be vigilant about our security and the security of the people we live with.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

thebeast_within
2007-09-09 05:44 pm UTC (link)

I don't mean cover it up in the sense it didn't happen or pretending it didn't, I mean it in the sense that neither of the alerts really address the fact that York wasn't prepared for it to happen, in spite of all the problems that have happened on campus in recent memory, nevermind whats made the news.

I'm pissed off that it takes something 'newsworthy' (excuse the term, I don't mean to sound insensitive to the 2 victims) to happen for them to increase their presence on campus, and moreover need to WAIT for something to happen to react rather than be proactive and realize that campus isn't safe - as you say. When it boils down, I want York to own up to the fact that their security 'presence' ebbs and flows on the tide of public scrutiny and not on the needs of the student body.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

rachelashleigh
2007-09-09 05:49 pm UTC (link)

It's true though Mike, York can't do shit until something happens...it's unfortunate though.

Hell we had this "problematic" person last September, and not until she threatened to kill us 1-2 months later did York really do ANYTHING. Like I had an instance where it was just me and her in a room and she had an "episode" (the nicest way I can say it) and I thought she was going to hurt me, but because she didn't...nothing happens other than they keep an eye out for more problems.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

thebeast_within
2007-09-09 05:52 pm UTC (link)

But it doesn't offend you that once noise around something (read the most recent issue at Vanier with these 2 girls, plus the one last year with the stabbing) dies off, the number of visible security staff dies off with it? I'm offended by that. I'm not saying they need to employ thousands of staff...but a good percent of what they need in a crisis might be a smarter move than after the fact.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

rachelashleigh
2007-09-09 05:59 pm UTC (link)

You're right. Honestly you are.
Personally - I never see anything getting better until York Security has some sort of special status to them to be more active in situations and can do more. Like what is gonna happen when one day god forbid someone has a gun on them...threatening the university...security at that point can't do too much and they will be the first ones on the scene before Toronto Cops get there too.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

thebeast_within
2007-09-09 06:02 pm UTC (link)

Even employing peace officers would be a better tactic, your right. As of right now, if you evade a York Security guard...there is no civil recourse for the school. In the same way, they can't arrest you as anything more than citizens...I can do that...you can do that...so aside from presence and deterrence (which clearly isn't working to its full effect ANYWAY) what is their point?

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

rachelashleigh
2007-09-09 06:11 pm UTC (link)

True.

And my last incident (happened at the Murray Ross and Shoreham intersection) 2 weeks ago believe it or not... does not become York responsibility actually, because of school boundaries, which it is out of. It's actually Toronto Police turf right there...which makes me wonder whether a YU security guard would walk me to Black Creek where I park my car.

They also need to rework their goSAFE route. You can't get from Calumet College (and for people who don't know, that's 10 minutes away from Vari Hall) to Four Winds/Fountainhead area...you can only get that way by getting on the Vari Hall route. So you'd have to take the goSAFE first from Calumet TO Vari Hall, and THEN wait for the right goSAFE to take you in the other direction.

I guess it makes sense in the way as if it was a bus (has a specific route adn then you can transfer), but it's just aggravating. Personally Vari Hall and Calumet are the direct "ends" of campus, so they should have both routes running from both areas (they do for Vari) at Calumet. Because if you are closer to one end of campus, you kind of don't want to have to walk all the way the other way to get the right route you want.

The only time the goSAFE took me somewhere that wasn't on their exact loop was when I was in crutches. (It was 11pm at night).

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	snotrawket 2007-09-14 06:31 am UTC (link)
	but everyone around here is a stranger... I have been into some of the residences after knowing the person who invited me in for only an extremly short time. Like maybe just meeting them that day. I think the thing no one wants to say is "don't let crack heads in" lol. (Reply to this) (Parent)

kathleen86
2007-09-09 11:35 pm UTC (link)

Just wanted to say re: the "whole Jane and Finch thing", there have been NO rapes (to my knowledge) at J&F in the last 2.5 years, and over 4 at York in the same timeframe. It does no good to blame J&F for something that happened on campus when we don't have the facts (were the assailants students, or J&F locals?).

My heart goes out to these women, what a horrible experience to deal with, and I hope they are able to get the closure they need and I hope the cowards are drawn and quartered.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

thebeast_within
2007-09-10 02:09 am UTC (link)

I didn't say it was a resident or a student (so don't assume I'm pointing fingers) but violent crimes are high in that area, they are in others too, but thats not the focus of this discussion. I don't know why Jane and Finch is a trouble spot at times, and I don't presume to. I'm not mentioning Jane and finch as anything more than an indication that there is a marked trend of violence in that area.

Whether the people are from there or not, is immaterial to my point, which is just that the area has seen a lot of violence...what kind of violence is irrelevant.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

kathleen86
2007-09-10 03:42 am UTC (link)

I see and respect your poin. However, I believe that gang violence and peer violence/ violence against women are very different and comparing them is akin to apples and oranges. Moreover, because there is violence next door doesn't explain violence within the neighbouring house. One does not equate the other, in my opinion.

This is of course my own opinion and my observances having lived at J&F for longer than I've been a York student, and I can honestly say one has never felt safer (say, at 11pm on a Saturday) at one location over the other.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

thebeast_within
2007-09-10 04:13 am UTC (link)

I respect the fact your an eye witness to the goings on at J&F, but i'm still inclined to disagree with you. These women did nothing to provoke being attacked, I see there being a connection between any type of violence that harms an innocent person or persons. It has a negative effect on the community, both OUR community at York and the larger surrounding community, being J&F. It doesn't matter at that point whether its a rape, a stray bullet or a stabbing...the common thread is still the same on a sliding scale of the brutality of the crime committed. It sows mistrust and fear, and the fact it happens in this day and age is appalling...brutality like these 2 girls endured should have been left in the dark ages of history along side all of humanities other base monstrosities.

The reasons that a violent act occurs to me are irrelivant. They all fall under two umbrellas, necessity or passion. Neither of which are an excusable defence. In the same breath however, your right in a way. Violence in one home vs. another do not equate. You would be hard pressed to prove that ones persons reasons for demoralizing someone are the same as anothers.

Even still, my opinion is still the same. We see/hear/know that it happens both at york and in the community, but its 'not our problem' so its allowed to predicate and become commonplace rather than being stomped out we all know that such a mindset exits -though admittedly its by no means exclusive to J&F OR York.

In the end i'm arguing that acquiesced conformity is still conformity...and I don't agree with it. Campus can never BE 100% secure, thats a fact of life as much as its a statisitic, but in the main I see York trying to maintain the satus quo rather than trying to improve upon it.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

rachelashleigh
2007-09-09 05:01 pm UTC (link)

I read an article this morning in the Sun about this - and I'm happy with the details you've posted here, gives us a lot to look out for.

All of us have to be on the look out, commuter or rez student. Before Frosh Week started, I was driving up to Calumet, when some random guy tried to flag down my car and wanted me to roll down my window, and when I wouldn't do it (and thank god the light turned green at the same time) he started to get closer to my car, and then when I sped away he went to the next car.

Once I got to my destination, I called security. And guys it's the best thing you can do. Because if they get complaints then they can do something about it. With my involvement with York - I've called security numerous of times and have had my information taken so many times that few of the security people know me by name and I know them by name. Hell I've had an instance of a murder threat before which ended up going to the Toronto Police as well, and thankfully all that stuff got solved, but it is important for ALL OF US to be proactive.

I've made a new post with some more information I've received.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	kill_f0r_this 2007-09-09 10:54 pm UTC (link)
	I completely agree. People need to speak up if anything appears to to suspicious...it's the proactive thing to do and sometimes in the big picture it prevents situations like this. It just rattles me to think how easy it can be for these people... (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

rachelashleigh
2007-09-10 02:13 am UTC (link)

It's the fact that you can slip in SO easily providing someone is leaving/entering the rez building, and you just catch the entry door.

Even worse at Calumet, the porter station is not even situated on the same level as the houses even.

I just hope people make the phone calls, because if you feel that strange twinge in your stomach that something doesn't look right, that is enough to just go with your feeling and calling security can NEVER hurt, because they WILL go look into it. In my last issue I had 2 security guards meet up with me, and they radioed to one of the patrol cars to go check it out, and i saw that they did too, which was good.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	snotrawket 2007-09-14 06:26 am UTC (link)
	I disagree that people should call the cops whenever anything apears suspicious. I guess thats because I have seen it from the other side: Being wrongfully accused of commiting some unspecified crime by cops driving around at night with nothing to do but harass young males that there is no real reason to suspect of any crime. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	tv_viewer 2007-09-09 09:01 pm UTC (link)
	I'm really not surprised. I think it's useless how some residences don't have 24-hour sign-ins and it's very easy for people to sneak in. Last year during Christmas exams I heard screaming down the hall from my room in Founders. It turns out that a bunch of guys were beating up a girl in her room. (Reply to this)

creamofthecrop
2007-09-10 05:59 am UTC (link)

The one big problem people seem to be forgetting about this whole "don't let strangers in", "sign everyone in" etc etc is assuming that all threat is "out there". Sorry to break the bubble, but any/all those occurrences could have happened with someone from INSIDE the rez.

And let's say it's someone who wasn't signed in, how would BEING signed in help? Most victims have INSANELY unreliable eyewitness accounts and sometimes almost create images in their heads. You can't match a face to a name, especially not a warped one. Knowing who was in the building is unfortunately not good enough.

There are plenty of things York can do to make me feel safer. I feel safter on Gosafe. I'd feel safer if they could take me to finch instead of stopping at the nearest valley and dropping me off in the dark to walk it there. I'd feel safer if I didn't need to WAIT for the damn thing for 20 minutes in a dark isolated spot on campus. I'd feel safer if I knew the people you call to escort you around campus wouldn't HIT ON YOU! Little things that make a difference.

But signing in guests, does not make me feel safer, just makes me annoyed people prefer the ghost version of protection instead of the real thing.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

explitiveannie
2007-09-10 02:20 pm UTC (link)

I can understand where you're coming from on this, but you have to understand that prevention has to start somewhere. You like to think that the people you're living with, in close quarters, are safe, hence why the presumed threat comes from the outside rather than in. If we are to assume that the people living next door to you are a threat than we're going to be living in some kind of totalitarian big brother esque world which is neither safer nor better.

You have to start somewhere, no? If people are signed in to the building, then people can be called in for questioning, or identification, if need be. It is better than a blank slate. So having people signed in allows names to be matched to faces. Having people sign in is =already= assuming there is a threat in allowing them inside in the first place.

As for "victims" having "insanely unreliable eyewitness accounts," let's show a little respect, shall we? These =women=, yes they are women not merely "victims" of a crime, have experienced such a massive violation of trust and privacy that, yes, it is understandable that they may view things in a different light. But when a person lays their eyes upon their assailant for a second time, there is a hideous recognition that cannot be denied.

I agree that there need to be more measures in place to make us feel safe, I absolutely agree, but it needs to be known that there are some already in place that =must= be followed or they are made useless in their attempt to protect. If you're crying for protection, then you must respect things like signing in your guests. It's there for a reason, it is not useless and futile(like the GoSafe or the escorts).

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

creamofthecrop
2007-09-11 06:10 am UTC (link)

I'm not making the victims out to be retards or liars. All I'm saying is that in a situation like the one they're in they can't be expected to remember who it is. When I was younger I was attacked by 2 guys, and I took a few nice long looks at them before I ran away, but if I was asked to point them out in a lineup? No way. All I remember is the situation. I remember what they said, what they did. I do NOT remember a damn thing about what they looked like. Eyewitness accounts, even with the chill of seeing your rapist a second time, is unreliable as a single source of evidence. I'd love to see every person convicted of rape go through mandatory castration, but I have to give some respect to those accused. A lot of times victims aren't given time to digest before being questioned, and in a desperate effort to be helpful, you almost start seeing "new things" (e.g. remembering things that weren't there).

I understand that it must start somewhere, but I'm afraid we do not live in a world where we can assume our neighbors are all good people. Just this morning I saw a news update saying the rapists may have had passcards - meaning this is a far deeper problem than signing people in.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

snotrawket
2007-09-14 06:22 am UTC (link)

What if this happened at an apartment off campus? Ya know... some of us are the less-valuable people that do not live on res but still go to yorku. Do you think if there was a sexual assult at an apartment up by finch they would start making people sign in? No they wouldn't, because a)anyone who is not a ciminal and is subjected to this kind of constant suspision would be insulted and b)they know a criminal would just ignore any "sign in" procedures. I think its right to look for solutions to problems of this nature but very selfish to believe you are entitled to some enhanced level of protection, above everyone else that lives in the city, because you go to university.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	explitiveannie 2007-09-14 05:29 pm UTC (link)
	It has nothing to do with being part of the priveledged few, not at all, but it has everything to do witht eh fact that there are consistent problems on campus and because we are a =closed= campus, the toronto police do not police our campus until they are called. We have the pseudo protection of students playing dress up instead of the cops. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	moth__eaten 2007-09-10 04:03 pm UTC (link)
	some people are absolutely disgusting. (Reply to this)

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Women sexually assaulted in York University dorms

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