Eight months after a Northwestern student was raped in her apartment, the residents of Ridge Avenue and Simpson Street – especially women – are still reluctant to discuss the issue.
On May 8, a 22-year-old NU student was assaulted as she was entering her apartment in the 1200 block of Simpson Street about 11:25 p.m.
Preliminary hearings began Aug. 16 against Darryl Deshawn Preston, 24, who was charged with burglary, home invasion, unlawful restraint and criminal sexual assault in July.
The intersection of Ridge and Simpson is characterized by aged apartments and narrow alleyways.
“We always hear about that stuff around here,” said Communication junior Tommy Finn, who lives on the 2100 block of Ridge Avenue. “The back streets aren’t well-lit and stuff happens sometimes between the timing when the cops come around. It seems like it’s something else every month.”
Weinberg senior and Simpson Street resident Michelle Woods was abroad when the attack was initially reported and said she was concerned when she learned of the incident more than nine months later.
“I know I don’t generally consider
11:30 p.m. to be late at night,” Woods said. “It reminds you that you’re in a city, and it doesn’t matter that it’s filled with students and you’re only a couple of blocks from campus. It’s just as unsafe as other places.”
One in four college women today has been the victim of rape, said Katie McHugh , Weinberg ’06 and rape crisis counselor at the Young Women’s Christian Association in San Jose, Calif.
There are a number of ways women can protect themselves, but that’s often not enough, McHugh said.
“Real prevention is going into the schools and talking to them about gender roles and violence against women and how it’s so normalized in our society,” she said.
McHugh stressed that while rape can occur anywhere and at any time, most cases don’t occur on the street or when a woman is walking home alone at night. College-aged women especially should keep in mind that prior to a rape, most victims know and trust their assailant.
The college atmosphere also contributes to the frequency of rape on campuses, she said.
“You’re more independent and in a new place trying new things. A lot of people are getting into drinking, maybe drugs and sex,” McHugh said. “This doesn’t make things more your fault. People should have the right to drink – even get drunk – and not be assaulted.”
Woods said she and her roommates on Simpson Street were, until recently, unaware of last spring’s attack. They are concerned local authorities focus too much on traditionally high-risk venues such as parties and bar when enforcing safety policies, she said.
“We’re just having an issue with the Evanston Police and NU security,” Woods said. “They make such a big deal about keeping us safe, but they focus so much on parties and places where kids are drinking that they aren’t patrolling places right off campus where they know we’re living and walking.”
Reach Kayleigh Roberts at [email protected].
