OSU issues safety alert after dorm assault

Ohio State University posted a public safety advisory for its residence halls and the Columbus main campus area after a female student reported to university police that she was sexually assaulted in Busch House around 9 p.m. Tuesday night.

The student reported the assault to police Thursday afternoon, leading to the advisory later in the day.

The OSU police notice offers no details about what occurred and said suspect details were limited. The alert was issued because the crime is “considered to be of a concern and/or a continuing threat to the campus community.”

“As a reminder, sexual assault is any sexual activity that occurs in the absence of consent,” the notice states, going on to encourage everyone to lock doors and windows as a general safety measure.

The university reported in another advisory earlier Thursday that it was one of multiple universities across the country to receive a nonspecific bomb threat. A caller indicated to an Ohio State Department of Public Safety dispatcher that three mail bombs may have been placed on campus, providing no additional information.

“The Ohio State University Department of Public Safety does not believe this is a credible threat,” but that out of an abundance of caution police used bomb-sniffing dogs to search the campus, including mail areas, finding nothing.“

Anyone with information concerning these crimes should contact either the University Police at 614-292-2121 or Columbus Police at 614-645-4545. You may also report information anonymously to the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS or the University Crime Stoppers Tips line at 614-247-TIPS. bbush@dispatch.com @Reporterbush