Gonzaga investigating report of sexual assault in campus residence hall

Gonzaga University officials are investigating a report of a sexual assault in a campus residence hall.

An email sent to Gonzaga students and employees said the assault allegedly occurred on the night of Jan. 19 or in the early hours of Jan. 20. The incident was reported to Gonzaga’s security office on Jan. 25. The email said the accused and the accuser knew each other.

“The reporting party has been directed to the appropriate campus resources, and a Title IX investigation has been initiated,” the email said, referring to the federal law that prohibits sexual discrimination in educational settings. “Gonzaga has zero tolerance for any form of sexual abuse or misconduct.”

The email also provided a link to a list of resources and reporting options. It said Gonzaga security officers are available at all hours to provide security escorts on campus. They can be reached at (509) 313-2222.

The federal Clery Act requires colleges and universities to collect and publish statistics about various crimes that occur on and around their campuses.

According to Gonzaga’s latest Clery Act report, the school tallied seven instances of rape in campus housing in 2015, two instances in 2016 and two in 2017. The school also reported four rapes that occurred elsewhere on campus in 2015, and one such incident in 2016.

During the same three-year period, Gonzaga reported 14 instances of fondling, four instances of domestic violence, 10 instances of dating violence and seven instances of stalking on campus.