Two men sexually assaulted a female UW-Madison student early Saturday morning on the 1000 block of Spring Street, Madison Police reported.
According to Madison Police, a female 21-year-old UW-Madison student was walking on Spring Street at about 1:40 a.m. Saturday morning when two men approached her. Police said the men forced the victim to the ground and then assaulted her.
The two suspects remain at large and are described as white males in their mid 20s—both about 6 feet tall. The first suspect has a goatee and was wearing a blue puffy jacket. The second suspect was also wearing a blue puffy jacket, as well as a dark blue ""skull cap.""
UW-Madison junior Megan Cook lives on the 1000 block of Spring Street, near where the assault took place, and said an event like this in her backyard is an eye opener. She said despite all the assaults on campus this academic year, it had never occurred to her—until now—how dangerous the campus has become.
""It gets you thinking that nowhere is actually safe from anything and it can happen anywhere and you have to be careful at all times,"" Cook said. ""Even if there are people around because, they're not necessarily watching to make sure that other people are safe.""
""Certainly this is very troubling and very frustrating,"" said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4. ""I cannot recall anywhere near the number of crimes of this sort occurring in the campus area in one academic year, it's just unprecedented.""
Verveer drew parallels between Saturday's assault and other assaults on campus last semester—especially the assault that took place early in the fall semester near Ian's Pizza. He said the campus area is probably no longer an area that can be overlooked when talking about crime.
""There's no part of the downtown campus area that is immune to this random, senseless violence,"" Verveer said.
UW-Madison sophomore Kim Beedle lives in the Spring Street area and said that in light of the situation and her close proximity to the location of the assault, her level of concern has been heightened. She said she was walking alone in College Court Saturday morning, near the location of the assault and is now ""nervous and scared"" to walk alone.
""I know I've been a lot more concerned this year and I know my parents are a lot more concerned about me,"" Beedle said.
Still, Madison Police Sgt. Jennifer Krueger Favour said the assault was unfortunate but comes as a reminder that assaults can happen any time of the year.
""Crimes such as this happen all year round, unfortunately,"" Krueger Favour said. ""We don't necessarily see a rise and fall because of temperatures.""
Krueger Favour added that residents and students should be reminded that no place in the city should be assumed to be safe. She said being aware of surroundings and taking advantage of campus SAFE services are the best way to stay safe.
""No matter where you are in the whole city, people need to be aware of their surroundings and preferably walk with somebody else if it's late at night,"" Krueger Favour said. ""They should have all their faculties. Don't be talking on your cell phone, don't be intoxicated, if something seems strange or suspicious then go to a public place.""
