Content warning: This article contains information about physical violence.
A Duke student was the victim of a physical attack Thursday night in the Brightleaf area of Durham, according to a Friday email to all undergraduate and graduate students from Duke Student Affairs.
The incident is now being investigated as an aggravated assault, wrote Mary Pat McMahon, vice president and vice provost of student affairs, and Interim Dean of Students Debbie Heida, in the email. Duke University Police is assisting the Durham Police Department in the investigation, they added.
McMahon and Heida shared that “details remain limited” and that the attack was “apparently at random.” The student was reportedly “with a group of other students” at the time.
According to the email, additional details will be shared with the community if they become available.
“Our teams have been providing support to the student, and we are available to provide support to other students impacted by the event,” wrote McMahon and Heida.
Brightleaf is a neighborhood southeast of East Campus, which includes part of W Main Street.
University administration shared additional resources and safety information. Students can contact DUPD at 919-684-2444 and DPD at 919-560-4600. Students can also download the Duke LiveSafe app, which allows users to send tips to DUPD and includes a “SafeWalk” feature.
Duke Vans provides free, on-demand transportation for faculty, staff and students between 6:30 p.m. and 2:45 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Rides are available to and from Duke facilities, as well as to off-campus locations within a 1.5-mile radius of the University, and students can request a ride through the Transloc app.
The email also included mental health resources available to students, including Counseling and Psychological Services, TimelyCare, DukeReach, DukeLine and the Student Affairs on-call team. Duke also has a confidential mental health crisis line through CAPS that can be reached by calling 919-660-1000 and selecting option 2.
“We know that news like this can be unsettling, whether you are directly connected to those involved or not,” wrote McMahon and Heida. “Students’ safety and well-being are of utmost importance to us, and victims of violence are not to blame in any attack.”
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.
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Michael Austin is a Trinity junior and managing editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.
Zoe Kolenovsky is a Trinity junior and news editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.
Abby Spiller is a Trinity junior and editor-in-chief of The Chronicle's 120th volume.