Two UW-Madison students were sexually assaulted at Ogg Residence Hall, one Saturday night and the other early Sunday morning, representing the first sexual assaults reported this year, according to UW Police.
The Saturday incident involved an acquaintance of the victim, whom she has identified. Sunday's assault involved a perpetrator unknown to the victim who entered her unlocked room as she slept. He had a significantly different description than that of the first incident.
Sgt. Johnnie Diamante of UW Police said police believe the cases are unrelated and have suspects in both.
\Both investigations are still ongoing,"" he said.
UW Police do not believe these incidents are reason for increased concern among students.
Campus organizations responded quickly to the incidents. Within hours a representative from the UW-Madison Dean of Students office was assigned to the cases.
Kevin Helmkamp, assistant resident life director for the Southeast Area of University Housing, said housing staff assists victims however possible.
""We try to make sure they have a full understanding of all the resources available on campus and in Madison,"" he said. ""A lot depends on the individual victim and what they want us to do.""
Stephanie Byrnes, chair of Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment, a campus group that addresses sexual assault, said it is important to be supportive of sexual assault victims.
""Always believe the victim,"" she said. ""People don't make this up. They just need someone to listen and support them.""
Byrnes said sexual assault is a silent crime that students should be conscious of.
""The national statistic is one in three will be sexually assaulted in their life,"" she said.
Rates of sexual assault at UW-Madison are comparable to other universities of similar size, according to Lori Henn, relationship violence prevention coordinator for University Health Services and PAVE advisor.
In 2001, 59 sexual assaults occurred on campus with 22 of those having been reported to police. Furthermore, a 1995 UW-Madison sexual violations survey found that 47 percent of seniors had a sexually violating experience during their time on campus.
Both Henn and Byrnes emphasized the impact of alcohol, which was involved in both incidents this weekend, on sexual assault cases. Henn said UW-Madison has a reputation for sexual assault because of the prevalence of high risk drinking on campus.
To reduce the risk of sexual assault, Henn recommended students go places in groups, leave with the people they come with, trust intuition and have a designated nondrinker with the group.
Henn also advised students to be cautious with acquaintances, since assault victims in many cases know the perpetrators.
""We're concerned about stranger assault, but we're equally concerned about acquaintance assault,"" Henn said.
