A rape was reported to have occurred at the South Hall dormitory on April 6, according to a public crime log released today.
The log entry, which was released by Norwich University Public Safety department, stated that rape was reported to campus police around 10 pm. The incident took place sometime between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. the following day inside South Hall, one of the civilian residence halls.
Few other details were provided in the entry. Police were called and further investigation is needed into case, it said.
“Unfortunately, I am unable to give you an update on the case,” Andy Sumner, Norwich’s Public Safety chief, said via email. He referred The Guidon to the school’s compliance office and Title IX office. Emails from The Guidon to those offices have not been returned. Emails and calls to local law enforcement agencies have also not been returned.
Norwich’s Public Safety department typically denies requests for more information on alleged campus criminal cases, and it is unclear whether they maintain such records. Criminal incident records such as this are considered open and protected under state and federal open records laws.
For instance, other Vermont law enforcement agencies, including the Vermont State Police, release criminal case information such as the name, hometown and age of the person or people arrested or cited, the type of charge, details that support the charge, booking photos and details of the incident.
The Guidon doesn’t release victims’ names unless they specifically request the news organization to do so.
A sexual assault was also reported around this time last year just prior to graduation, as reported by WCAX News. Wilson Reich, 22, of Dudley, Massachusetts, pleaded not guilty last year to the felony charge, according to local media reports. If convicted, Reich faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
“Norwich University takes every allegation of sexual violence seriously and is fully cooperating with local law enforcement officials,” said Marc Kolb, director of Campus and Athletic Communications. “In conjunction, the university is currently conducting its own investigation.”
The Guidon encourages anyone who is the victim of a sexual assault or witnesses an incident to call 911 and campus public safety. Free and confidential counseling services are available through the university counseling and wellness center.
