Semester's fifth rape reported at MSU

A female Missouri State University student reported Thursday that she was raped in a campus residence hall earlier this month.

It is the fifth report of a on-campus rape that has been made this semester. The incident is being investigated by the Springfield Police Department.

According to a crime alert released by MSU's Safety and Transportation Department, the female student reported the sexual assault took place on Oct. 21 inside the male student's room in the residence hall.

Police spokeswoman Lisa Cox said alcohol did not appear to be involved, and the two parties knew each other and had a prior relationship. The alleged incident occurred a little after 7 p.m., she said.

The four alleged rapes occurred within a six-week period, one on Aug. 26, one on Aug. 30 and two, just hours apart, on Oct. 9.

Earlier this month, Springfield police told the News-Leader the department had suspended its investigation into the Aug. 26 case because of a lack of cooperation. Cox said Friday that in one of the Oct. 9 cases, the alleged victim has declined to prosecute. The case is still open, Cox said, because the department typically waits to suspend cases in situations like this in case an individual changes his or her mind.

The other cases are still being actively investigated, Cox said.

Earlier this week, officials from MSU and three other area colleges held a news conference to discuss Green Dot, an initiative that recruits bystanders in an effort to cut down on sexual assault and violence. The prevention model recruits bystanders on how to safely step in, speak up and interrupt potential acts of violence. It is also a framework for creating a campus or community where such acts are not tolerated. MSU plans to launch Green Dot at the start of the 2016-17 academic year.

Colleges recruit bystanders in fight against sexual assault, violence