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A woman was assaulted near the intersection of Smithfield Road and Duck Pond Drive at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday night.
According to Virginia Tech Police, the woman was walking alone on Smithfield Road when she noticed a man following her. She reported that he came up behind her and pushed her to the ground. She was able to kick the man away and call for help.
She said she was not injured and had not been sexually assaulted. She did not see any weapons.
The suspect is described as being a while male, about six feet tall and of average build. He was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
Anyone with information regarding the incident should contact the Virginia Tech Police Department (231-6411).
A version of this article appeared in the Oct 25 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Maybe he accidentally bumped into her and she freaked out?
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Or maybe, actually far far more likely, the events happened exactly as she described.
Honestly your response kinda disgusts me. It's horrible that when anything like this happens people always want to believe that it doesn't. Or they try to place the blame on the women. In this case you assuming that she over-reacted.
I can almost guarantee that you're a guy. You probably also don't realize that this happens ALL THE TIME. But a lot of women are scared to report what happens because of response like yours that equate to nothing more than victim blaming.
And hey. You might think I'm overreacting now. I wish I was though. But assault, rape and violence against women happens so often that I honestly don't talk about it enough.
Either way, I hope she's okay and hopefully nothing like this happens again.
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Anonymous (second poster), you win. Thank you.
Also, first poster, there's a difference between being bumped and being "pushed to the ground." What're the reasons behind assuming she's lying? Oh yeah, that she's a woman, and women are inherently flighty, overreactive creatures, amirite?
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far far more likely?
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/17355/student-charged-for-false-sexual-assault-report
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Very enlightened post, Bill. One woman did something stupid, so we must assume all women are liars. After all, being assaulted at night while walking alone near the Duckpond is totally the same as making up a lie to avoid "Drunk in Public" charges while attending a concert. Yup. No difference in those circumstances at all.
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Just saying, why would a guy randomly push a girl to the ground then run away?? Just seems kinda random.
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He probably thought she was going to be an easy target. When she put up a fight he probably decided to flee instead of drawing more attention to himself.
Did you not read the whole release? It stated she fought back and managed to escape from him. Not that she was simply "pushed down" by some random dude that proceeded to run away...
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Or maybe you just can't comprehend that there *are* people who set out to impart violence on others.
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REALLY are you flipping kidding me< :( He PUSHED her sorry that is by far bumping into to her!! Have some respect!!!
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I bet dollars to donuts it's a false report. Sunday night boredom.
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You would lose those dollars and those donuts. Why don't you call the VTPD on a Sunday night to file a police report, legit or not, then see how fun it is. Give them a false one, then watch the officers enjoy those donuts while putting you in the pokey.
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obviously the duck pond is a magnet for trouble and needs to be paved over. People assaulted, people dying... it is a menace and must be removed.
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Agreed. It's a microcosm of the good/evil; Donald/Daffy dichotomy that has existed and been played out for centuries. And don't forget the mosquitos...the horror...the horror...
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I agree and can attest to that, I was there at night in 2007 after a football game sitting at the rotunda there by the water to clear my head a bit waiting for my girlfriend at the time.
Then this middle aged man wearing West Virginia (WVU) hat starts a casual conversation and in the middle of it randomly asks me to perform a sexual act. Now I'm a guy and I'm 6'0 pretty athletically built (probably 205lb at the time)but I was pretty creeped out I've never had something so random and disgusting happen to me. Not to mention he could have had a hidden weapon. I declined and quickly got up and gtf outta there. Creeps me out to this day.
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So just decline. I know it must have been weird, but it's not like he was threatening you or anything.
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Every guy has a hidden weapon.
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...and then your girlfriend showed up, and the WVU dude got what he wanted in the end.
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Ah, if only I had a nickle for every time a guy in a WVU hat approached me and suggested that.
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Maybe he thought you had a purty mouth.
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Hey... more parking on campus!
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I cannot believe how many immature people there are at Tech.
Many faculty/staff/admin here wonder how most of the students actually get in.
Every single article is subject to such moronic crap in the comments section.
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Clearly you are new to the internet...
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Yep, just logged on today and saw all this crap.
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Cannot has sarcasm?
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Dear Andy,
90% of people on the internet are moronic and immature. the other 10% are smart but mean-spirited. You want enlightenment? Go to class, a church, a temple or someplace peaceful, like the duck pond...if it hasn't been paved over by now.
Sincerely,
Mark Zuckerberg
p.s. Thanks for making me rich.
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3 Internets for Anonymous
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Why is it that some people instantly think false report? WTF is a matter with you. There is the potential of some scum bag looser out there that might do this again and this time to your GF or wife (because I'm sure it's only guys saying this). If it was my wife and I found out who it was I'd probably end up in jail over it... just sayin.
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There is always that potential. But many of us choose not to live in fear. Even if the report is true, the fact that the guy ran off because of kicking and yelling is a pretty good indication that any resistance will make him run off again. Now, if the victim could've gotten some DNA, with maybe an eye gouge or a scratch, there'd be some physical evidence of what occurred. Right now, it's a story, and the suspect's description meets about 90% of the male population at VT. So should we be afraid of that 90%?
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"But many of us choose not to live in fear." What's your point? Who is advocating living in fear?
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"there is the potential of some scum bag looser out there that might do this again and this time to your GF or wife"
I'd say that's living in fear.
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Although 90% of campus males may not be a threat, they may be. No way to know, so don't let that description deter you from believing this report.
Question, if you go camping, are you afraid of bears? I'm not, but I know they represent a potential threat, however unlikely. When a woman goes walking alone, in the dark, she is in a situation that has a similar potential for harm, however unlikely.
Should she call safe ride everytime she wants to go home? To me, that would be living in fear. Whereas, walking home and protecting herself from an attack in the process seems quite the contrary. Walking home with a friend is a better idea, but women should at least be able to walk home on campus and not have to depend on a safety van.
W/regards to the description fitting 90% of the male population at VT, of course it does. Hello, 90%. I'd take those odds in Vegas everyday.
I know a guy who had a similar incident to this on Main Street last month. He punched the attacker, who then fled. There was no article, but the attacker was also a white guy in a dark hoodie, but had dark pants. Should I doubt my friend's story?
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...Additionally, why should she need evidence to file a report of an attack?
Ask your family and friends if they think it would occur to them to take the time to scratch someone during a situation as reported above. Seriously. Ask them. I'd venture the % who do, if any, is in the single digits.
Fight or Flight. That's the response. Not gather evidence.
I hope you never have to deal with a situation like this, but if so, I hope you don't waste time thinking about gathering evidence.
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I don't live in fear - I legally carry a concealed firearm for self defense. If someone bigger and stronger wishes to do me harm, a firearm is the best way to even the playing field. Much better than hoping they change their mind.
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Tech needs to hire some secrity gaurds there so many people on campus and the duck pond get assulted,raped ect...
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