To the Hendrix College
community,
As Conway Police continue to
investigate a sexual assault and robbery that occurred early this morning in a
College-owned apartment, our primary concerns are for the victim and for the
ongoing safety of every member of the Hendrix community.
While this specific event has
one victim, this incident is also an attack on our community. Our response today
– and as the fall semester begins and throughout the academic year – must
likewise be collective action, strength, and support.
As community members, it is
our responsibility to protect ourselves and each other.
We must keep the conversations
about campus safety issues such as sexual assault ongoing.
We must redouble our ongoing awareness
and prevention efforts to help everyone in our community understand what they
can do to keep themselves and each other safe.
And we must constantly
evaluate everything we do to raise awareness and provide education about campus
safety and sexual assault issues.
While we can’t comment on
specific details of an ongoing investigation, this is a serious incident for
our community.
We will continue to do
everything possible to support the victim in this incident and to keep Hendrix
safe.
- H-Alert was activated and
follow-up campus safety email messages were sent.
- Our Dean of Students
and Public Safety Chief held a campus forum today to discuss concerns and
answer questions about this incident.
- We have offered to
relocate any student in the College apartment complex where the incident
occurred.
- We have offered
counseling services through our Chaplain’s Office.
- We have increased
public safety patrols of campus.
- We are evaluating
additional security measures for College-owned housing.
- We are continuing to
communicate about the incident and our response, internally and externally.
In the meantime, let us all
keep the student victim in our thoughts and prayers and continue to focus on
keeping the Hendrix community safe.
Sincerely,
Bill Tsutsui
President