Email warns Greeks of possible assault, robbery
The Greek Life community at USD is rallying together after being alerted by email of a possible assault and robbery that occurred early Friday morning.
According to the email, which was sent to sorority and fraternity leaders Friday afternoon by Lambda Chi Alpha President Nicholas Bratvold, a member of Bratvold’s fraternity was walking in an alley between Plum and Pine streets when “his memory stops.”
After the fraternity member awoke being treated by medical responders and spoke with the Vermillion Police Department, the incident has thus far been determined as “not alcohol-related and was likely an assault,” the email stated.
The email further stated there was “evidence of blunt force trauma” to the back of the fraternity member’s head, and that $40 was stolen from his wallet.
Bratvold declined to comment about the incident, but said safety is one of his fraternity’s priorities at this time.
“Our biggest concern is making sure all members of the community, whether it be the USD community or Vermillion community, are safe at any time of day,” Bratvold said. “We want to make sure everyone is safe.”
VPD officials could not be reached for an interview until Tuesday.
Tena Haraldson, director of communications for USD, said the university has not distributed any information about the incident or safety precautions to students.
“At this point, I don’t think there was a feeling that it affected campus,” she said. “It’s not for a lack of concern for students, it just happened on private property.”
Kim Grieve, vice president of Student Services and dean of students, and Pete Jensen, director of the University Police Department, usually decide when to notify students about safety concerns, Haraldson said.
Grieve and Jensen could not be reached for an interview at this time.
In Bratvold’s email to his peers, he calls for unity among sorority and fraternity chapters on campus, seeking to “reassure our safety beyond our walls.”
The implementation of a buddy system is being advocated within the Greek community, along with a push for “sufficient lighting” in the alleyway in which the incident occurred, the email stated.
Check back later for updates to this story.
