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UNC-Chapel Hill students raise questions about notification system after sex assault, alleged library harassment

Some students at UNC-Chapel Hill are raising concerns about their safety after a student was sexually assaulted at an off-campus parking deck and three female students were harassed at the campus library.

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Students speak out about UNC-Chapel Hill notification concerns
By
Sarah Krueger
, WRAL reporter
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.Campus police at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were searching Wednesday for a man accused of harassing three women who were just outside the Walter Royal Davis Library with comments one of the victims said were sexual in nature.

The man left the building only when one of the women pulled out pepper spray — though she did not use it.

"It’s just sad that this is the world we live in now," said student Christina Boelkins. "I think it’s just so normal that I don’t even think twice about it."

The library incident and a recent violent sexual assault at a nearby parking deck have prompted questions about how the university notifies students and staff about crimes.
Female students at UNC told WRAL News that they are not surprised that this happened.

"That’s just, unfortunately, what girls have to deal with," another student said.

Last week, a UNC student was sexually assaulted in the parking deck of a loft apartment building located near campus.

Chapel Hill police on Wednesday released video that shows a man on a bicycle in the moments before the attack. The 911 call made to police has also revealed new details about the crime, including that the female victim was punched and raped while the man held a knife to her throat.

"I’m just kind of frustrated that people are still harassing young women," said student Brianna Gilmore. "It’s just kind of disconcerting to me."

UNC sent out a campus alert about the sexual assault nine hours after it happened, a delay that prompted concern among some students on the campus.

In a written statement to WRAL News, UNC Police Chief David Perry said: "UNC Police are working closely with the Chapel Hill Police Department to assist in their investigation of the attack at Shortbread Lofts. The UNC Police Department has provided additional patrols on foot and by vehicle since this incident occurred."

Anyone with information about the sexual assault was asked to call Chapel Hill police at 919-969-2001.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the university had not sent out an alert about the library incident.

The mother of one of the victims questions why the school didn't alert the campus about the library incident.

A spokeswoman for the university said in a statement that, "The incident, which involved verbal harassment, while troubling, did not mean the criteria outlined on https://alertcarolina.unc.edu/about/.

But some students now question if more security is needed at the university's campus library.

"These are open mostly 24 hours, and it’s a little bit harder to try and keep track of people who aren’t supposed to be there," student John Hicks said.

When asked about the concerns about student notification, UNC administrators told WRAL News that the sexual assault was not on campus and they notified the campus community shortly after Chapel Hill police did.

Campus officials said the library incident did not meet the student notification criteria.

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