Safety Concerns Heightened as Sexual Assault Occurs Near Quinnipiac Campus

About a week and a half ago, a harrowing incident occurred right on the doorstep of Quinnipiac University. A Quinnipiac student told the Hamden Police Department that she was sexually assaulted on November 9. The incident occurred on the intersections of Mount Carmel Ave and New Road.

 

The student told police that the incident occurred as she was walking along the road around 11 p.m., when two white males in their 20s asked if she wanted a ride. She said that upon entering the vehicle, one of the males sexually assaulted her.

Quinnipiac’s Chief of Public Safety, Edgar Rodriguez, issued a detailed statement last week to the Quinnipiac student body on the issue that described some of the details.


Edgar Rodriguez sent this email to the Quinnipiac University community

Edgar Rodriguez sent this email to the Quinnipiac University community

Despite the incident, Quinnipiac students don’t seem too concerned about their safety levels when on or around campus.

“I feel like this area is pretty safe,” QU student Kyle Carbutt said. “But I’m sure it’s safer to live on campus.”

“You’ve got security gates, and… well, it’s a campus,” Carbutt added with a chuckle.

Other students seemed perplexed by the victim’s decision to get in the car in the first place.

“I was a little shocked,” student Caroline King said. “I also thought it was very interesting that she got into a stranger’s car to begin with.”

Though the assault is a serious issue, it’s not the only trouble that the Hamden area has seen recently, as there was a shooting in Hamden the following Monday.

Carbutt, though, still believes that the area is safe to live in.

“I know Hamden is a big town,” Carbutt said. “But I feel like our area – the Quinnipiac area – is pretty tight and pretty safe, I would say.”

Local High School Investigated For Potential Title IX Violations

Fairfield Ludlowe High School athletics are currently being scrutinized for potential discriminatory practices when reporting for their school’s teams.

Complaints have rolled in about the Ludlow Athletics Twitter account, which students and parents have claimed to show more favoritism towards the boys’ sports than the girls.

Colleen Phelan, a parent of a female athlete at the school, expressed her displeasure with the apparent discrepancies that were being shown on the school’s social media.

“If you don’t acknowledge kids’ hard work, it’s very disempowering, especially for a girl,” Phelan said. “They really don’t get the attention, and that doesn’t make girls want to be in sports.”

Quinnipiac’s Senior Experience Excites Students

When you’re coming down the home stretch of your victory lap, you might as well have a little fun with it.

That’s the mindset of many Quinnipiac University seniors, who are being offered a “Senior Experience” by the school.

Quinnipiac is organizing a night at the Foxwoods Casino and a boat cruise around Boston for members of the school’s senior class.

“I’m really excited about it,” Bethany Novak. “Going to Foxwoods… I’ve never been there before.”

Not all seniors are as enthused about the event, however.

“As of now, I’m not planning on signing up,” senior John Tamarez said. “I think (the experience) should be a full week after finals, like it was before.”

Chartwells Faces Criticism During QU Town Hall

Following last week’s raw chicken incident, Chartwells Dining Services came under heavy fire from the Quinnipiac student body – so much so that a Town Hall meeting was arranged to address the issues.

Last Wednesday, Quinnipiac’s Student Government Association organized a Town Hall-type event in Quinnipiac University’s Echlin Center, in order to allow students to express their questions and concerns to QU Dining representatives.

Some complaints included the sourcing of the food, the inspection process of the products, and the price of certain items.

Chuck Couture, the Regional District Manager of QU Dining, weighed in on the matter.

“We’re always looking at better ways to be more sustainable,” Couture said. “Our ask is [to] bring it to our attention.”

SCSU Gymnast Dies During Training

On November 10, tragedy struck the Connecticut and NCAA community as a whole.

Southern Connecticut State gymnast Melanie Coleman died last Sunday due to complications from a serious injury she had suffered in practice on Thursday, November 8.

Coleman injured herself when she fell during a routine exercise on the uneven bars during practice, according to SCSU spokesman Ken Sweeten.

Coleman’s family said in a statement: “We are confident that her spirit, laughter, and humor will live on through the ones who loved her most, as well as through the gift of life to those who needed it most through organ donation.”