Three sexual assault cases that occurred in the area of Ruggles T station were reported to the Northeastern Police Department over a period of 10 days. The victims in each of the cases were female Northeastern students, each assaulted by a group of individuals, ages ranging from 10 years old to high school level.
The first case was reported on Sept. 15, but took place on Sept. 5 at 9 p.m. More than a dozen people, allegedly between the ages of 10 and 12 years old, followed a female student down Forsyth Street near Shillman Hall. Members of the group that consisted of both boys and girls turned and grabbed the student in a private part of the body.
The female student said that two other adults were in close watching distance when the incident occurred and did not try to help, according to reports released from the Northeastern Public Safety Division.
Three days later, at 7 p.m., a female graduate student was also surrounded by a group of juveniles, this time on bikes. As they rode by they grabbed a private part of her body and rode off. This happened in front of the Egan Science/Research Center.
A 20-year-old female student was reportedly grabbed by a group of young juveniles, said to be between the ages of 10 and 12 years old, the following Thursday, Sept. 11. The juveniles were again on bikes and rode off immediately afterwards.
On Monday, Sept. 15, a female staff member was approached by 10 to 12 juveniles around 6 p.m. Members of the group asked the staff member as she left Shillman Hall for cigarettes, then proceeded to try to grab her handbag.
She was reportedly “assertive” and “forceful.” The staff member immediately went to the Northeastern Police substation located in the Ruggles T station to report the incident. Northeastern Police apprehended four youths outside of Ruggles.
The youths were identified as members of the group that approached the woman before. She did not want to prosecute, but the NUPD will be contacting the families of the youths.
The area close to the Ruggles T station has often been populated with those not affiliated with the university but rather using the T for transport, whether back and forth to school or for other endeavors. Ruggles is a T stop close to four of the charter high schools in the Boston area and frequented by students of the Boston Public School system.
“There’s always a lot of people there during the day,” said Tabitha Heisler, a middler business management major.
Preventive measures have already been enacted and used. Methods include the escort service provided by Northeastern’s Public Safety Department and officers patrolling the campus, in particular around Ruggles, at night.
With four incidents being reported within a week to a week and a half period, it was questioned whether or not a “sexual assault trend” would begin.
“There’s no time of day, or day of the week that has come out as a common denominator in these instances,” said James Ferrier, associate director of the Northeastern Public Safety Division. “Unfortunately, when doing patrols to catch a trend, it’s like a catch-22 because of the different locations. Some are earlier, some later, et cetera.”
Problems arise with the fact that Northeastern is known for its urban setting and long standing of community involvement.
“Whether through the library, student center or athletic facilities, [Northeastern] has a long tradition to make their facilities available to the high school population as a safe place for them,” Ferrier said. “Literally, scores of kids decide to hang out here because it is so safe and so pleasant.”
Ashley Nickerson, a senior behavioral science major, said that “certain areas are with not enough [security].”
Nickerson believes that heightening security and awareness will help reduce the odds of sexual assault occurring on campus.
Already, community police teams address safety and security issues on campus, including the directed police patrolling of particular trouble spots.
“The university police are highly visible, along with the MBTA [police] to deter disorderly conduct,” Ferrier said.
“We do have a program directed to put our officers and people from MBTA on patrol because during the public school season, a large number of students take the T to Ruggles to any of the four high schools in the morning and afternoon,” Ferrier said. “Some kids are younger than high school, 10 to 12 years old.”
For the time being, a new policy or security measure will not be considered. Officers will pay specific notice to the area where the incidents occurred in order to catch any suspicious groups that may be in the area.
The Northeastern Public Safety Division urges students to use the personal safety escort service provided by Northeastern. They also stress anyone who is victimized or witnesses an incident should call the Northeastern Police Department immediately at (617)373-3333.
