The Hanover Police Department is still investigating a spring breaking and entering incident at Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority. Although the investigation is still open, Hanover Police Chief Charlie Dennis said that all leads in the investigation have been exhausted.
In the spring, a burglar entered the sorority and left behind a sexually explicit note on the premises.
Following the incident, both Safety and Security as well as Hanover Police increased security around Greek houses. Since the incident, Hanover Police have investigated similar occurrences near the College.
“There have been other similar incidents that we have worked, and we always keep that in mind regarding any case that may have any similar things that have occurred,” Dennis said.
Hanover Police encourages anyone with possible information to call them at (603) 643-7278.
The College is now installing identification-card entry at all College-owned Greek houses, although it is unclear if this is related to the spring incident. At the moment, ID-card entry has been installed at all College-owned sororities. Both Alpha Chi Alpha and Chi Heorot fraternities will have ID-entry by the end of the fall term, Office of Greek Life director Brian Joyce said.
“It will prevent access from anyone not living in the house, and that is important because you have had door codes distributed and handed out to the larger community,” Joyce said.
Joyce noted that the Office of Greek Life has been speaking with KDE to discuss improving safety.
“Student safety is our primary concern,” he said. “We are constantly thinking how to best make our houses safest.”
President of the Student and Presidential Committee on Sexual Assault Abhilasha Gokulan ’18 said installing ID-card entry at Greek houses is a necessary measure for the time being. The SPCSA advises the administration about issues surrounding sexual assault and promotes cross-campus programs that address sexual violence, Gokulan said.
“Having [ID-card entry] is more secure because you know that the person entering the house is someone who should be in the house,“ she said.
Gokulan added that the College should clarify a response protocol by informing students about “which offices do what and who students should contact.” She said that it is also important for the College to communicate facts as quickly as possible.
“Because of the age we live in with social media, words about these incidents were going out through GroupMe a lot faster than emails from the administration were going out,” Gokulan said. “That’s hard for the administration because there’s nothing they can do to control that spread, but it did incite a lot of fear.”
According to Gokulan, efforts to increase student safety should also be student-driven.
“It needs to be something where students are talking with their professors, talking with the administration saying, ‘We want the school to be safer, we want students to have to attend these trainings and we want the administration to beef up security,’” she said.
Safety and Security declined to comment because the investigation is still open.
