Notice to the community
Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler sent the following message to the campus community on Oct. 17, 2011 - Ed.
Dear Students,
I am writing to inform you of a sexual assault that was reported over the weekend to the William & Mary Police by one of our women students. According to the student’s account, the incident involved an acquaintance and occurred inside a residence hall during the early morning hours of Saturday (October 15). After she went to the hospital for a medical exam, William & Mary Police were notified and began an investigation. Earlier today, a fellow student was charged with one count of rape and arrested.
Generally, I send campus notices when there is an on-going safety threat or when members of the community may have information that could help the police in an investigation. While neither of those criteria fits in this instance, it was important to me that our William and Mary community learn of this serious report first, before the arrest becomes more widely publicized off-campus and in the press. I also did not want to miss this opportunity to remind students of important support services available on campus for those whose lives have been affected by sexual assault. There are many resources for you or a friend who might need help. In addition to caring staff members in the Counseling Center and the Dean of Students Office, the College also has a comprehensive website that gives quick, easy access to information. Posted there (www.wm.edu/sexualassault) are contacts for immediate help in a crisis, as well as more general information for the entire campus community about how to help a friend.
As a campus community there is much we can do, both individually and collectively, to support one another, and to stand together against sexual violence in all its forms.
Sincerely,
Ginger Ambler