Campus Safety and Security posted a Safety alert informing students of an on-campus sexual assault. The alleged incident is the second reported sexual assault during Gasparilla weekend in the last three years.
The incident was reported at 10:40 p.m. to UT Campus Safety and Security.’ The incident happened in Stadium Center.’ There were no injuries or threats of violence reported.’ ‘I can’t provide all the details because it’s so convoluted,” Kevin Howell, assistant director of campus safety ‘amp; security said.
The incident involved two women who are roommates in Stadium.’ ‘ A male friend of one of the roommates was invited to the women’s room and reportedly had sex with both women.’ ‘It’s an issue of whether it was consensual,’ Howell said.
The acquaintance of the male reported she’ was a victim of sexual assault.’ The male who allegedly sexually assaulted one of the women is not a student at UT.’ ‘He is not even from Tampa… he goes to a different Florida college,’ Howell said.
Alcohol was involved, but Howell said, ‘They weren’t drunk to the point that they were inebriated. They weren’t drunk out of their mind.’
Howell also said the male had been on campus since that morning. Names have not been released, but Howell said the two women are UT seniors.
Due to Gasparilla festivities, Campus Safety and Security had all employees working 12 hour shifts that day; 29 employees plus Campus Safety and Security’ director Charles Mascenik and Howell.
At 6 p.m. one officer per dorm required all persons entering to’ sign in.’ However, in Stadium, Straz and Austin, officers monitored’ the lobbies starting at 4 p.m. due to complaints from RA’s about alcohol issues.
However, the students involved in the alleged sexual assault’ came back to Stadium before an officer was patrolling the lobby at 4 p.m.
Howell said that many non-residents started coming on campus on the previous Friday morning.’ But he said security did not have enough staff to start making people sign in at that time.’ ‘We don’t have the manpower for it. We’d have to triple the size of the department to prevent all of that.’
Howell said Gasparilla day alone ‘pushes us to the maximum.’
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Tampa Police have finished an investigation on the situation.’ Now the case has been turned over to the State’s Attorney office.’ ‘It’s up to them now,’ Howell said.
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