Campus safety message
Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler sent the following message to the campus community on Sept. 18, 2012 - Ed.
Dear Students,
I am writing to inform you about an incident of sexual abuse that will be on this week’s crime log. Over the weekend, a female student reported the abuse to William & Mary Police. According to the student’s account, the incident involved an acquaintance and occurred in the vicinity of Barksdale Field in the early morning hours of Saturday, September 15. The acquaintance approached the female student and touched her in an unwanted and inappropriate manner. Fortunately the female student was able to leave the scene and was not physically harmed.
Generally, I send campus notices when there is an on-going safety threat or when members of the community may have information that could help the police in an investigation. While neither of those criteria fits in this instance, I did not want to miss this opportunity to remind students of important support services available on campus for those whose lives have been affected by sexual abuse or sexual assault. There are many resources for you or a friend who might need help. In addition to caring staff members in the Counseling Center and the Dean of Students Office, the College also has a comprehensive website that gives quick, easy access to information. Posted there (www.wm.edu/sexualassault) are contacts for immediate help in a crisis, as well as more general information for the entire campus community about how to file a report or help a friend in need.
As a campus community there is much we can do, both individually and collectively, to support one another, and to stand together against sexual violence in all its forms.
Sincerely,
Ginger Ambler