Pitt students demand safety during rally in Oakland after sexual assault reports

More than 100 University of Pittsburgh students protested Friday in front of and inside the Cathedral of Learning after reports of a sexual assault inside the historic building in Oakland.

Pitt reported on its crime alerts website that the assault occurred at 4:20 p.m. Monday in a stairwell in side the Cathedral of Learning.

“An unknown male approached the victim, pushed her, held her against the wall, and sexually assaulted her,” the statement said. “The suspect fled down the stairwell, and from there in an unknown direction.”

Some students told Tribune-Review news partner WPXI and the Pitt News that there is not enough security on campus. They carried signs that said “#MakePittSafe,” “Hold Pitt Accountable” and “Am I really Safe Here?”

“We should be able to go to class and feel safe,” student Sophia Runia told WPXI. “We should be able to be in a school building and feel protected. It makes no sense we would be walking around and be fearful that something is going to happen to us.”

The Pitt News reported that Monday’s incident marks the third sexual assault crime alert released by Pitt Police this school year.

BREAKING: About 100 students are gathering outside the Cathedral of Learning to demand Pitt take action following a reported sexual assault inside the Cathedral earlier this week. pic.twitter.com/eNe94RoaHz

— The Pitt News (@ThePittNews) October 7, 2022

Ted Fritz, vice chancellor for public safety and emergency management, said in a campus-wide email Friday that police patrols have increased after Monday’s incident.

“I want you to know that I hear, understand and share your concerns about the recent criminal activity,” Fritz wrote. “In addition to our ongoing campus safety measures, such as security in all campus buildings and more than 1,000 closed circuit cameras on the Pittsburgh campus, we are taking additional actions in response to these recent incidents.after the protest that patrols and presence of Pitt police and security have increased at the Cathedral and Community Programs Unit officers have been added to the site in response to the alert.”