MSU posts seventh sexual assault alert this semester

A seventh sexual assault this semester has triggered a crime alert at Missouri State University.

The alert issued Wednesday stated a female student reported she was "forcibly fondled" by a male student in a residence hall on campus.

A recent change in reporting rules by the U.S. Department of Education requires higher education institutions to differentiate between a rape and a fondling.

The six previous sexual assaults reported this semester were being investigated as alleged rapes by the Springfield Police Department.

According to the most recent alert, a report was made to the MSU Department of Public Safety at 9:51 a.m. Wednesday. The incident reportedly occurred "in the early morning hours" of Oct. 28.

Police spokeswoman Lisa Cox recently provided the News-Leader with an update on the investigations in the first six sexual assaults reported this semester. Here are the updates:

• August — The investigation into the Aug. 30 incident was suspended due to lack of victim cooperation.

• September — Investigation continues into Sept. 28 incident.

• October — Of the three incidents reported in this month, one is still under active investigation. In the other two, the victims declined to pursue charges.

• November — In the Nov. 2 incident, the victim wanted no police involvement. Cox said the police were not given any information on the incident.