Second reported sexual assault involving Temple students in three weeks prompts consent reminder

Temple University has notified students of a newly reported sexual assault at an off-campus residence, the second such report involving its students in about three weeks. The university said the two students in the latest case are acquainted.

News outlets gave differing accounts of which agency is handling the case. The Philadelphia Inquirer said the matter was referred to Philadelphia police for a criminal investigation. FOX 29 and CBS Philadelphia said campus police at Temple are investigating.

Citing Temple police crime logs, the Inquirer reported that the incident happened Sunday at the Avery, a privately run apartment building on North 15th Street. FOX 29 said the university's letter indicated the assault was first reported Tuesday morning. 6abc and the Inquirer said the school sent its notice Monday evening.

Temple declined to discuss specifics. "We are working directly with the student who reported the incident," Jodi Bailey Accavallo, Temple's vice president of student affairs, wrote, according to FOX 29.

The Inquirer reported that Accavallo co-signed the letter with Denise Wilhelm, chief of Temple's police force. The message reviewed consent rules and told students to pause and check with a partner whenever they are uncertain.

The prior report involved University Village, another private housing complex, on Oct. 10. Citing the campus crime log, FOX 29 and 6abc said the alleged rape took place at about 2:30 a.m. at the North 10th Street building, which 6abc said sits inside the university's patrol zone. The Inquirer reported that no criminal investigation is underway in that case, which was sent to Temple's internal conduct review instead.

Temple President John Fry issued a statement about the earlier report last week. "Temple takes all reports of sexual assault seriously, whether they occur on or off campus," he said, according to FOX 29. Per the Inquirer, Fry also noted that students who report assaults choose whether to seek criminal charges.

According to the Inquirer, Temple said on Oct. 3 that it was creating a panel of students, faculty and staff to examine its sexual assault practices and offer recommendations, amid national scrutiny of allegations at Cornell University. 6abc called the panel an advisory group that will study victim support and incident response.

Separately, the university alerted students that a man with no connection to Temple has reportedly exposed himself inside the Howard Gittis Student Center. According to 6abc and FOX 29, campus officials have stepped up security rounds in the building and shared a picture of a possible suspect with security workers.

FOX 29 said no arrests had been reported in connection with any of these incidents. 6abc reported that Temple Police are asking anyone with information to call 215-204-1234.

Compiled by True News from reporting by The Philadelphia Inquirer, FOX 29 Philadelphia, 6abc Action News and CBS Philadelphia. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/548