A student at Temple University reported being raped Saturday at a privately operated residential complex at the North Philadelphia campus.
The student on Tuesday reported the alleged crime to the university, according to a crime log that is made publicly available by Temple.
The rape allegedly happened on Saturday around 2:30 a.m. at University Village on North 10th Street between Cecil B. Moore and West Montgomery Avenues.
The crime log on Wednesday said the case was “referred to the student code of conduct,” whereas most of entries of reports of crimes say “investigation is ongoing” by Temple or Philadelphia police, or an “arrest was made.”
Temple officials did not say publicly why the case was being investigated for violations of the student code of conduct instead of as a criminal allegation.
In a statement released Wednesday night, Temple president John Fry said he could not comment on the specifics of the case, but he wanted to provide some clarification.
“Students who are reporting a sexual assault make the decision on whether they wish to pursue criminal charges,” Fry said.
“If they want to file a police report, we work to help them navigate that process, connecting them directly to a victim advocate who supports them during this difficult time. That commitment is unwavering and consistent. Whether they choose to pursue criminal charges six days or six months after an incident, we are there to serve as a trusted partner. No matter what the student decides to do, we also offer university resources and support through a variety of on campus resources,” Fry said.
“This investigation is currently being handled through Temple’s Student Conduct Code, which allows the university to hold students accountable under university policy,” Fry said.
“While the university’s conduct process is independent of law enforcement, it does not diminish the seriousness of the allegations or our responsibility to respond,” Fry said.
The president said a university safety alert was not needed in this case.
“When an incident is reported to the university, we review the available information and assess whether a TUAlert is needed. While an alert was not issued in this case, that does not mean we take the report any less seriously. We are committed to transparency, and this incident was included on the university’s publicly available crime log. We are thoroughly investigating the matter and responding appropriately,” the president said.
In light of the outrage that has erupted over a 2024 rape allegation at Cornell University in New York, Fry reiterated that the university has convened a Sexual Assault Advisory Group that includes students, faculty, and staff.
The advisory group will review “our current practices and make detailed recommendations to university administration. Work on this group is already underway, and they will be charged with a review of the full scope of the university’s policies, practices, communications and coordination with the Philadelphia Police Department on cases of sexual assault.”