Public Safety

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION

A report has been received that early this morning, Sunday February 10, 2019, several female WCU students called a driver they were familiar with to transport them from a house in the 500 block of South Matlack Street in the Borough back to campus. They stopped at a local Wawa on the way back to campus, but after leaving the Wawa the driver did not return to the campus, but instead drove the women around to areas they were not familiar with and then dropped them off at a location in western Chester County. During this incident it was reported that the driver touched one of the women on her leg uninvited. After they had been left abandoned by the driver, the women then contacted 911 and the PA State Police located them and returned them to WCU. The identity of the driver is known and the State Police are investigating the incident. Anyone with any information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the State Police Barracks at Embreville at 610-486-6280 or West Chester University Police at 610-436-3311

The campus community is cautioned to be aware of their surroundings and to report all suspicious situations. The campus community is encouraged to program 911 and 610-436-3311 into their cell phones. Anyone with information relating to crime is encouraged to contact the West Chester University Police Department at 610-436-3311.

If you or someone you know has been affected by a criminal act, the Chester County Crime Victim Center provides free, confidential support services to WCU Students at their 24 hour hotlines, 610-692-7372 for sexual assaults or 610-692-7420 for other crimes. On-campus assistance is available through the Center for Women and Gender Equity, Counseling Center, Student Health Center and the Office of Student Conduct.

If you or someone you know has been affected by a criminal act, the following resources are available to you: (*denotes confidential resource)

Department of Public Safety 610-436-3311
Counseling Center*: 610-436-2301
Student Health Center*: 610-436-2509
Social Equity/Title IX Coordinator: 610-436-2513
Center for Women and Gender Equity 610-436-2122
Office of Student Conduct: 610-436-3511
Crime Victims Center*: 610-692-7273 or 610-692-7420
National Sexual Assault Hotline*:1-800-656-HOPE

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS:

• Report all crime or suspicious incidents.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Avoid walking alone.
• If your partner says no or does not give clear verbal consent, sexual activity must stop.
• Your partner cannot give consent if incapacitated with alcohol or drugs, coerced, threatened, or frightened.
• The person(s) who initiate(s) a new level of sexual activity is responsible for getting consent for each level of intimacy.
• Limit your use of alcohol.
• Step in if you see a friend or acquaintance being taken advantage of or trying to take advantage of another person. Separate the individuals and make sure they get home safe.