Article published September 06, 2007
University of Tiffin student, 18, raped on campus
TIFFIN - In what city police are calling a "very, very rare" incident, an 18-year-old female student at Tiffin University was dragged out of a campus computer lab and raped during the weekend.
Tiffin police Chief Dave LaGrange said the young woman, who is an international student, entered the computer lab in the basement of the main classroom building on Miami Street about 1:40 p.m. Saturday. She logged on to a computer and then was grabbed from behind, dragged to a nearby men's restroom, and assaulted, he said.
Within minutes of the attack, the victim went to a residence hall and called police. Chief LaGrange said she was treated at Tiffin Mercy Hospital and examined by a sexual assault nurse examiner.
Police planned to meet last night with Tiffin University's student body to discuss the incident and ask for help in finding the rapist.
"In general, I want to fill them in on what occurred so we can kill any rumors that are going around, but I also want to see if we can pull any information from them that might help us identify the suspect," Chief LaGrange said.
The victim described her assailant as a tall, thin, African-American male in his 20s. He had a tattoo on his chest, although she could not provide a description of it."We don't know at this point if it's a student or if it's a stranger," the chief said. "It's an open campus just along the street in that section of the city. Either is possible."
Visitors do not need an identification card to enter the building or the computer lab, he said.
As part of the investigation, all of the log-ins on the computers in the lab were being checked.
Chief LaGrange said the area in the lab where the suspect was seen also was processed for evidence.
Lisa Williams, spokesman for Tiffin University, said university officials are working with city police on the investigation.
"A campuswide e-mail was sent immediately after the assault was reported, encouraging students to walk in groups and look out for each other and what to do should they become a victim," Ms. Williams said.
Chief LaGrange said his department, which investigates all incidents at Tiffin University as well as Heidelberg College, has responded to reports of date rapes or assaults that occurred after students were drinking heavily, "but stranger-on-stranger is very, very rare for us."
Neither of the Tiffin campuses has its own police force.
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