"Ladies, please lock your door at all times," a Jewett Hall flier read. "There is a rapist on the loose. Be safe!!"
This flier in conjunction with the rumors of a rapist had some females living in fear, running off whenever they saw a male lurking around the female dorms.
GSU Police Chief Jefferson Walker stated that he had heard of the rumor.
"Parents called me and informed me that there was a rapist going around on campus," said Walker, often referred to as "Chief." "We were not able to find evidence that supported the claim. We were not able to find anybody that was raped." No victim came forward.
"To date, this is unfounded." Walker does know how the rumor could’ve started.
"We had an alleged rape reported, which was off-campus," he said. He stated that the city is investigating that case and that the university police are assisting with it
As far as the rapist fliers, the university police did not put up those fliers. GSU PD "did not formulate or distribute the flier," he said. However, they did put up a "Wanted" poster in conjunction with a criminal investigation.
"No charge was alleged in the poster that we distributed," Walker said. "Word got around about the alleged rape and people presumed that the two were related."
On Monday, a rumor started about a rape occurring when a female student was walking from the GSU Library. However, Walker stated that he was in office until two that morning, and the university police did not receive any information on such a rape.
Walker did encourage anyone with any knowledge of a rape to report it to the GSU Police, and the matter will be investigated.
Rape statistics
1 in 4 college women have either been raped or suffered attempted rape.
75 percent of male students and 55 percent of female students involved in acquaintance rape had been drinking or using drugs.
83 percent of rape cases are ages 24 or under.
Only 16 percent of rapes are ever reported to the police.