GOSHEN — Activities went on normally Tuesday night on the well-lit GC campus, but the presence of security was obvious.
Students were in the cafeteria, union, library and snack bar and walking the sidewalks like usual, while a crowd was enjoying the activity at the recreation center.
But there was concern and even shock among students after learning that a student had been attacked and sexually assaulted at 1 a.m. Tuesday.
According to a Goshen police report, a woman said she was approached by a male while walking to her car parked on the Goshen College campus. The man displayed a knife and forced her to drive to a second location off campus, where a sexual assault took place. The victim was taken to Goshen General Hospital for treatment and released.
“When people hear that there was an assault, it was a shock,” said Nikita Zook, a sophomore from Canton, Ohio, who was working at the rec center.
“You think, ‘How can this happen?’ And you think, ‘It could have been me.’”
She said students were being more careful, and there was beefed up patrols on the night shift on campus.
Peni Acayo, a senior from Uganda, said she has lived off campus all four years while at GC.
“I was leaving at the same time (as the reported abduction) last night,” Acayo said. “I said, ‘Whoa!’ It definitely hit home.
“I would like to say I will be going home earlier,” she said, but she works on a group art project into the night.
“We want to be responsible. We will walk with someone, not by myself. You appreciate what you had before,” Acayo said Tuesday.
A college spokesman said officials there are in contact with the student’s family and are providing help and support.
College officials say they are cooperating with police in the investigation, as well as meeting the needs of students, including increased security on campus and counseling to students seeking assistance.
“Goshen College is committed to the education and nurturing of our students and take seriously our responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment,” said Bill Born, vice president for student life and dean of students. “We are cooperating fully with police, providing whatever support we can for all our students and providing additional security to safeguard our students.”
About the attacker
Goshen police said the suspect is described as a white male, about 26 to 27 years old. He has short, dirty blond hair with a longer nose. He was last seen wearing a light-weight, dark-colored jacket with plain, black winter gloves.
Anyone with information pertinent to the investigation is asked to call the city police at 533-8661.
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