Loyola investigating 4 reports of sexual assault, abuse in dorms

Loyola University Chicago is investigating four reports of sexual assault or abuse within its dorms, including three accusations against the same student, officials confirmed.

The four cases all allegedly happened within the last six months and were reported to Loyola’s Department of Campus Safety in January, officials said. The allegations were first reported by the student newspaper, the Loyola Phoenix.

The most recent incident was an alleged sexual assault that happened Jan. 17 at the university’s Marquette Hall, 6255 N. Kenmore Ave., according to the Campus Safety department’s crime log. It was reported to Loyola on Jan. 26.

The three other reports all came from the university’s Simpson Living and Learning Center, 6333 N. Winthrop Ave., according to the crime log. The alleged incidents all happened last year, but were reported to the university on Jan. 31.

The Simpson Center reports include an alleged sexual assault that happened Oct. 1, 2019, as well as two instances of alleged sexual abuse that happened Nov. 6 and over a period of time between Aug. 21 and Dec. 13, according to the crime log.

The three complaints at Simpson came from different students, but all accused the same person, according to Tim Love, executive director of equity and compliance and Title IX coordinator at the Loyola. That student has temporarily been ordered not to enter any Loyola residence halls while the complaints are investigated.

Love said he could not confirm the ages or genders of anyone involved in the complaints, but he confirmed that they all are Loyola students.

Loyola’s Campus Safety department classifies sexual assault as any non-consensual sexual penetration or contact. Sexual abuse is classified as any sexual conduct through threat or use of force, or sexual conduct when the victim doesn’t understand the nature of the act or could not give knowing consent.

Chicago Police could not immediately provide details on the accusations.