PULLMAN, Wash. — WSU campus police are talking to KREM 2 News about safety concerns following a reported sexual assault on campus.
As police investigate, they are also increasing patrols on campus.
The alleged assault happened in a parking lot just south of Beasley Coliseum. Investigators are working around the clock to make sure something like this doesn't happen again.
Chief of WSU Police Gary Jenkins said that while there are rumors of a "serial rapist" in the Pullman/Moscow area, they are not true.
"The rumors about a serial rapist or similar activity here locally are unfounded, at least as far as reporting to authorities," Jenkins said.
Since the alert came out about the assault, Victoria Vandenbeld, a junior at WSU, said students are now on edge since they don't know who committed the crime.
"It is definitely making everyone uneasy this year," Vandenbeld said. "And I think since Halloween is this weekend, everyone is nervous about how they [will] go out."
Vandenbeld said this news has even changed the way her friend group is choosing to celebrate Halloween.
"I think it's a group of 20 of us now, because we are all kind of joining together to watch out for each other," Vandenbeld said.
Jenkins said there are resources for students who feel unsafe walking around campus at night.
"We do have a walking service through our police cadet program through the police department that's provided from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.," Jenkins said.
That service makes sure students walk with a cadet anywhere on campus. There are also close to 50 blue-light telephones on campus, which go directly to the regional dispatch center to send emergency responders.
"No community is immune to violence, so we are working to do everything we can to make this campus as safe as possible," Jenkins said.
Jenkins said WSU recently got close to $3 million in funding for camera expansion, which will add 120 new security cameras around campus to hopefully make parents, students and community members feel more safe.