Dear Students and Colleagues,

Today, a local news outlet aired a story related to an alleged sexual assault that took place at a privately-managed apartment complex this past weekend. While we cannot comment on the specifics of this matter, I want to provide clarity and transparency on the process for handling sexual assault reports, as some of the news stories omitted important information.

Temple takes all reports of sexual assault seriously, no matter where they occur. Navigating the aftermath of a sexual assault is a traumatic and deeply personal experience for the victim. No single incident is the same, and there are varying reasons as to why a victim will choose to pursue or not pursue criminal charges.

Students who are reporting a sexual assault make the decision on whether they wish to pursue criminal charges. This important detail was omitted from the news outlet’s report. Temple respects a student’s decision and does not make it for them.

Our commitment is to support victims with resources in all circumstances. If they want to file a police report, we work to help them navigate that process, connecting them directly to a victim advocate who supports them during this difficult time. That commitment is unwavering and consistent. Whether they choose to pursue criminal charges six days or six months after an incident, we are there to serve as a trusted partner. No matter what the student decides to do, we also offer university resources and support through a variety of on campus resources.

This investigation is currently being handled through Temple's Student Conduct Code, which allows the university to hold students accountable under university policy. While the university's conduct process is independent of law enforcement, it does not diminish the seriousness of the allegations or our responsibility to respond.

We also take seriously our commitment to keeping our community informed. When an incident is reported to the university, we review the available information and assess whether a TUAlert is needed. While an alert was not issued in this case, that does not mean we take the report any less seriously. We are committed to transparency, and this incident was included on the university’s publicly available crime log. We are thoroughly investigating the matter and responding appropriately.

As I shared on Oct. 3, we have convened a Sexual Assault Advisory Group comprised of students, faculty and staff to review our current practices and make detailed recommendations to university administration. Work on this group is already underway, and they will be charged with a review of the full scope of the university’s policies, practices, communications and coordination with the Philadelphia Police Department on cases of sexual assault.

We will never waver from our commitment to fostering an environment where all members of the community are safe and welcome.

Sincerely,

John Fry
President