Assault shocks students

An Oberlin College student was brutally assaulted on Sunday behind Keep Cottage. The student, a 19-year-old female, was walking home from Mudd Library when she was attacked from behind and beaten with an unidentifiable blunt metal object.

Detective David Jasinski of the Oberlin Police Department said the incident remains under investigation.

The College's Safety and Security officers responded to a report of a scream that came from the area of the Stevenson Dining Hall parking lot at 11:17 p.m.

The student told police officers she did not know the attacker or the attacker's motive. She said she felt that she was being followed. After she screamed, the attacker ran east towards Main Street, according to College security reports.

After her attack, the student stood up and sought assistance in Keep.

A Keep resident who wished to remain anonymous said, "I got there about 10 minutes after the attack. There was blood everywhere and she had a big gash on her forehead."

College Security officers escorted the student to Allen Memorial Hospital, where she was treated for injuries.

The student suffered several blows to the back of her head and face. She was later transferred to Fairview General Hospital for further treatment and attention to fractures.

According to Assistant Director of Safety and Security Marge Burton, the student was treated for her dental injuries at Fairview. The student was released after undergoing reconstructive surgery.

The student stayed in an apartment in Baldwin with her mother immediately following her release. She is now at home and plans to return to classes next week.

"I have been extremely distressed about it. We don't expect things like this to happen on this campus," said College President Nancy Dye.

"No one should walk alone at night," the Keep resident said. "I've been trying to tell everyone what happened. It scares me because I live in Keep."

The Office of the Chaplains has organized several open discussions at Keep Cottage and the Counseling Center has had several calls from students wanting to discuss the incident.

"On behalf of Oberlin College Safety and Security, we'd like to say that we are open to talking with students, whether it be individually or in small groups, about this incident," Burton said.

"The staff has gone all out to help," Assistant to the President Diana Roose said. Roose said she too had often left her office late at night and walked alone. "It always shakes people up when this happens," she said.

"Oberlin City Police are dedicated to identifying a suspect and are working hard to pinpoint a motive," Burton said.

Jasinksi said a number of suspects have been detained.

"We don't know on this one," Jasinski said. "We've got nothing concrete."