MSU Responds To Sexual Assault On Campus

Authorities at Montana State University in Bozeman confirmed on Tuesday that they are investigating a sexual assault that allegedly occurred on campus over the Labor Day weekend.

Spokesman Tracy Ellig said the report came in on Friday.

"Mid-morning Friday, we had a report that a sexual assault had occurred sometime between 12:30 a.m. and 1:15 a.m. on Friday, September 2nd," Ellig said. "We're continuing our investigation and we have identified a suspect, who has already been brought in for questioning. The investigation continues, but no charges have yet been filed. We made the decision later that afternoon that we would communicate to all of our students, faculty and staff, as well as post on our university Facebook page, so between students, faculty and staff, that's a communication to more than 20,000 people. We also have about 100,000 followers on our Facebook page."

Ellig said officials are making it clear that sexual assaults occur on every college campus.

"We wanted to remind our students that sexual assault is not just something you read about in the newspaper," he said. "Unfortunately, they will happen. This is a bitter reminder that they all need to be taking steps to keep themselves and their friends safe, and that it's everybody's responsibility to try and reduce the incidents of sexual assaults."

Ellig said MSU offers similar resources to students as those at the University of Montana in Missoula.

"We have a Voice Center which provides support for victims of sexual assault, and it also conducts outreach, and bystander intervention training, That's when we train college students hat when they see someone who is inebriated, or who find themselves in an uncomfortable situation, to intervene and to offer to help someone out of that situation."

Ellig said students and their parents discuss the issue of sexual assault during their initial campus visit and during orientation.