Alleged Use of Rohypnol at Off-Campus Locations
Photo By: Joseph Ruggeri, 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
On Friday night, the Office of Safety and Security at Marist issued an important security update to the community in regards to the alleged use of Rohypnol or “roofies” at off-campus locations.
“These reports are concerning because Rohypnol is an illegal drug which can be used to facilitate sexual assault,” Associate Director of Safety and Security Al Abdelrahman said.
As of Friday night, neither Marist security nor the local law enforcement have received reports in connection to the allegations. Students have alleged that women are being targeted and drugged with Rohypnol at off-campus bars. Through social media and word-of-mouth, the allegations of drugging and sexual assault are being talked about across campus.
“Marist College takes the safety of its students, on and off campus, very seriously and asks that any individuals with information relevant to these reports please come forward and share what they know,” Abdelrahman said.
Since the college has a medical amnesty policy, students who have been affected or witnessed anything related to these allegations can document them without getting in trouble. All students, including those under the age of 21, who provide information about the use of Rohypnols at off-campus bars will not face disciplinary action.
“Under the relevant policies and procedures including sexual assault, possession of rohypnol by a student and any form of sexual assault involving students are punishable by disciplinary action up to and including expulsion,” Abdelrahman said.
The security update also provided students with a list of safe practices to follow when off campus. The list included tips such as always going out with a friend, not leaving a drink unattended, not accepting drinks from others and being aware of their surroundings.
In addition, Marist Security addressed the symptoms and signs often seen when a person is drugged. Students should look for signs of feeling very drunk, even if they have only had one drink, nausea and vomiting, loss of muscle control and excessive sweating. Being drugged can also cause breathing problems, heart irregularities, dizziness, and a loss of coherence. If students suspect they or someone they know has been drugged, they are advised by Marist Security to “seek medical attention immediately.”
If students want to report incidents of the use of Rohypnol and sexual assault they can contact the Office of Safety and Security, the Poughkeepsie Police Department or they can report an incident online through the Marist Student Conduct page.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released from Marist Security, the local police departments and the college community.