Building security unchanged after January rape

Despite a January rape that occurred at 3 a.m. in Grover Hall, Ohio University has not changed any security or access policies to campus buildings.

There have been no changes regarding access to buildings and hours of building operations

said OU spokesman Jack Jeffery.

OU Police Department Lt. Rich Russell said the rape in Grover is still being investigated, but there are currently no suspects. He said the incident was different than most other sexual assaults on campus, because the rapist was unknown to the victim. The majority of sexual assaults and rapes are usually between acquaintances, he said.

In his 16 years working for the OUPD, he said he doesn't recall any other rapes occurring in an academic building.

The victim was an interior architecture major who was working on a project in Grover Center at the time of the assault.

Interior architecture students do have access to the studio in Grover 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said Ann Paulins, director of the School of Human and Consumer Sciences. Though, she said, the students choose times to be there under their own discretion. Interior architecture students' class schedule typically runs between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., she said.

Students work on projects in the Grover studio at their workstation because they are required to keep their computer and other equipment, which they have purchased, there. According to the interior architecture Web site, www.ohiou.edu/humanandconsumer/interiorarchitecture.htm, the purpose of the workstation is to allow students to work effectively outside of class time which is an important aspect of design education.

It would be hard to avoid spending late nights in the architecture studio in Grover because students, especially during their sophomore and junior years, are pounded with projects

said Heidi Schubert, a senior interior architecture major.

It's so scary

because it could have been any of us

Schubert said in regards to the incident.

It is normal for students to bring blankets and pillows and take a half hour nap

she said.

Students are so tired that they sleep on desks

and professors end up waking them up in the morning

Schubert said.

Neither Paulins nor OUPD knew specifically who else had 24-7 access to the building.

There is not a specific security policy for Grover Center, Russell said, but officers periodically walk through all buildings at all hours.

Faculty members met to make sure students are educated about ways to enhance their safety and to talk in general about broad safety issues, Paulins said.

When asked if policies, such as 24-7 access, might be changed, Paulins said, There are no plans to change students' rights.

Paulins wouldn't comment in regards to whether students had expressed concern after the incident.

Students should be involved in the discussion, Schubert said.

The issue is about us

so why aren't we having meetings with them? she said.

Matthew Ziff, coordinator of the interior architecture program, and interior architecture professor Judy Matthews, both declined to comment.

Steve Mack, director of university custodial services, said the second floor of Alden Library, Sunday through Wednesday, is the only university building that is technically open 24 hours a day. All other university buildings are supposed to be locked by 11 p.m.

Buildings that contain mostly offices, like Chubb Hall and Bentley Annex, are usually locked around 6 p.m., he said. Buildings with low academic use, such as Lindley and Stocker Center, are usually locked at about 9 p.m. General buildings like Morton are usually locked between 9 and 10 p.m.

There is no strict uniform policy at OU as to when buildings are to be locked, Mack said, with custodial services locking the buildings according to the requests of each specific college and its program departments.

Each academic department is in charge of assigning access to those who need it, Mack said. He gave the example of Seigfred Hall, explaining that there are students working 24 hours a day in studios.