Report of sexual assault at Adelphi investigated, officials say
Adelphi University Campus. Earle Hall in Garden City in 2013. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
A reported sexual assault at Adelphi University is under investigation by police, according to a letter to the community sent by college officials.
Few details about the incident, including the time and location of the alleged assault, were released and it's unclear if the victim is a student at Adelphi.
In a letter to the community Sunday, officials at the 7,500-student university confirmed they were called to Earle Hall to investigate the alleged assault.
"The Department of Public Safety, Garden City Police Department, and Nassau County Special Victims and Crime Scene unit were called to the residence hall and are working together to investigate the occurrence, support the affected individual, and protect our campus community," wrote Sentwali Bakari, the university's vice president of student affairs and Ray Hughes, the chief of campus safety and emergency management.
" … As details about this disturbing news develop, we want to reassure you of Adelphi’s commitment to our community’s safety and our compassion for anyone affected by sexual assault," Bakari wrote.
Garden City Police and the Nassau County Police Department each confirmed the incident is under investigation.
“We are aware of the allegations and working with our partners in law enforcement," added Brendan Brosh, a spokesman for the Nassau District Attorney's Office.
Law enforcement officials told Newsday Monday afternoon that there was no suspect in custody.
“The health and safety of our students and entire campus community is Adelphi University’s foremost priority," said Adelphi spokesman Todd Wilson on Monday. "We continue to cooperate with the ongoing police investigation. Beyond the communications sent out to our community yesterday, we cannot comment any further at this time.“
In their letter, Bakari and Hughes advised students of a host of counseling, interfaith and telehealth services available to students and staff.
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
'A spark for them to escalate the fighting' A standoff between officials has stalled progress, eroded community patience and escalated the price tag for taxpayers. Newsday investigative editor Paul LaRocco and NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie report.
'A spark for them to escalate the fighting' A standoff between officials has stalled progress, eroded community patience and escalated the price tag for taxpayers. Newsday investigative editor Paul LaRocco and NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie report.
