UC Berkeley issued a warning to students regarding several sexual assaults involving spiked drinks that took place at a residence near campus on Friday night. The alert, sent via the university’s WarnMe system, informed the campus community of the incidents, which occurred on the 2300 block of College Avenue at 11:55 p.m, Madilynne Medina of SFGate.com reported.
The message described the assaults as “drug-facilitated sexual assault-battery and aggravated assaults via poisoning.” Although the exact location was not specified, the block houses multiple residences, including a fraternity and an off-campus student housing complex.
Due to the sensitive nature of the crimes and the fact that they occurred within the city of Berkeley’s jurisdiction, the university provided limited information. Janet Gilmore, a UC Berkeley spokesperson, confirmed in an email to SFGATE that the Berkeley Police Department is investigating the case. However, the incidents were not recorded in the university’s crime log for Sept. 13.
The Berkeley Police Department has also withheld details, noting that an investigation is ongoing. Following the alert, some Berkeley community members expressed concerns on social media about the timing of the notification, given that the assaults happened on Friday. One Reddit user commented, “Shouldn’t everyone have been notified sooner? Be safe everyone, never drink something unless you have poured it yourself.”
UC Berkeley’s WarnMe system issues two types of alerts: “emergency notifications” for immediate threats like an active shooter or dangerous weather, and “timely warnings” for crimes, as required under the 1998 Clery Act, which mandates universities to notify the campus of crimes that could pose a threat to safety. The Department of Education recommends issuing such warnings as soon as pertinent information becomes available, with timing decisions made on a case-by-case basis.
This is not the first time UC Berkeley’s alert system has faced criticism. In February, the university was criticized for issuing an emergency alert 40 minutes after gunfire erupted near Sproul Plaza. Following that incident, the university promised to review the WarnMe system to improve response times.
Anyone with information regarding the assaults is encouraged to contact Berkeley Police Department’s Sex Crimes Detectives at 510-981-5724.
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