WASHINGTON — Two George Mason University students told police they were raped in separate incidents four days apart.
One says she may have been drugged, while the other says she met her attacker through an online dating site.
The first reported incident happened on March 17. A student says she was raped by a student she knew after she believes she ingested an unidentified drug.
Confirming that an investigation is underway, Thomas Longo , the university’s interim police chief at the university in Fairfax, Virginia, warned of the risks of some beverages, particularly at parties.
“Parties are attended, perhaps, where drinks are served that the container is not sealed, so there’s the possibility of adulterating the beverage,” Longo says.
The second incident occurred Monday in a Fairfax campus residence hall involving a student and a male she met through an online dating service.
While not providing details of the specific incident, Longo says there have been problems in the past with students making online dates.
“When you meet someone online and you arrange a physical meeting, you don’t know who you’re dealing with always … sometimes people will misrepresent themselves in an online situation,” Longo says.
Police have issued an alert to the campus community about both incidents. The alert also provides students several bullet points of information and tips aimed at reducing the risk of sexual.
For example, police say to “always seek verbal, sober and clear consent before a sexual act.”
