Students, Professors Outraged They Weren't Told Of Rape At Occidental College
EAGLE ROCK (CBSLA.com) — Students and professors at Occidental College in Eagle Rock are outraged they weren't informed about a rape on campus over the weekend.
The sexual assault reportedly happened just after midnight on Sunday in the 4900 block of Range View Avenue, which is an area filled with homes, student housing and a fraternity.
Danielle Dirks, an assistant professor at Occidental, said she doesn't understand why it took days for administrators to release information about the attack.
"The CBS report that came out last night is how most students have learned about this. It wasn't until after that report was spread around that an email went around to students," she said.
The email, sent by the dean of students, Barbara J. Avery, said, in part, "We received a report of a sexual assault involving two students that happened last weekend."
Avery said that if the student was assaulted by an unknown person, officials would have immediately issued a campus alert.
"The case, while very serious, was determined not to constitute a continuing threat," she said.
The dean of students said that Occidental doesn't tolerate the crime and urges students to come forward if they have been sexually assaulted.
Senior Carly Mee, who said she was raped by another student when she was a freshman, told KCAL9's Brittney Hopper that the situation hits close to home.
"That was me a few years ago. That's why it's really hard to hear about because I remember how it felt like it was yesterday," she said.
Mee said the liberal arts college should have taken better measures to notify students.
"It's just further silencing survivors by making it seem like it's just not going on. If it was more open… something can be done about it," she said.
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