By Erin Miller

Editor in chief

One current Calvin student and her roommate, a recent Calvin graduate, were sexually assaulted in their home Friday morning.

According to the Grand Rapids Press, a masked intruder pried open a sliding glass door in the home and threatened the women with a knife. He then assaulted both women and fled the home.

Vice President for Student Life Shirley Hoogstra said both women were recovering from the attacks.

``We should always be grateful when women keep their wits about them, and these women did,'' she said.

Although many Calvin students had expressed concerns about the lack of information regarding the attack and the many rumors circulating campus, Hoogstra said that because the attack was not on campus, and because the police have found no indications that the students were followed from campus to their home or stalked by their attacker, Calvin students should not feel that they are at a greater risk now than before.

With approximately 175 rapes occurring in Grand Rapids each year, Calvin policy has been to post immediate warnings following events that happen on campus, but not following events that take place off campus, even if they involved current Calvin students.

However, Hoogstra did not downplay the seriousness of the situation.

``This is a stark reminder that random crime happens,'' she said. ``You should always be vigilant. Make sure windows are closed and locked, doors are locked at all times and sliders always have a wood pole preventing them from being forced opened. There is no safe house because these are all random.''

Hoogstra added that these precautions are not just for students living off campus, but that students in the residence halls should also take care to lock their dorm doors and make sure that their windows cannot be fully open, especially those students living on the first floor.

A workshop on student safety is being planned for next week, although the exact date and location was not available by press time.