Assault and robbery reported at campus edge near student housing; three suspects sought

Dear TU students, faculty & staff — In the overnight hours, an assault was reported to have occurred on the edge of our campus on the public property in front of The Residences at 10 West Burke Avenue. A non-affiliate of the university was assaulted by individuals who approached the victim along Burke Avenue and then drove away from the scene. We thank Baltimore County Police and TU’s Office of Public Safety for their swift response. Baltimore County Police is leading the criminal investigation with the assistance of the Towson University Police Department. We are thankful nobody was physically harmed in this incident. However, I recognize the impact this event can have on our community and the sense of safety around us. And I’m writing today to say, “enough is enough.” Students and their families choose TU because it is a university of opportunities. It is also a safe campus. Acts like the one that occurred early this morning are attacks on our entire community, and they must stop. Crime and behavior that threatens safety have no place here. Today, I want to share three primary notes regarding our university’s response: - Safety remains my number one priority for our campus community. It is paramount. I am grateful for our Towson University Police Department, and our partners in the Baltimore County Police Department, for their commitment to that priority. - I am directing that all available university resources be made available to ensure that our campus remains a safe place to learn, live and work. I have asked TUPD Chief Joe Herring and his leadership team to review all safety protocols around the perimeter of our campus, and to work with their partners in doing so. I also want to note that TU continues to fund a long-term grant that supports Baltimore County Police with additional public safety staffing in the community surrounding campus. I commit to continuing that. - I am asking my leadership team to continue our collaborative relationship with Baltimore County to find solutions that can prevent acts—even ones that have no nexus to one another—that disrupt public safety. It is going to take all of us, together, to address this issue. I thank our TU students, faculty and staff for remaining vigilant. It is this shared effort that keeps our campus safe. As a reminder, whenever you see something or hear something—say something. Call TUPD at 410-704-4444 any time, day or night. I also want to remind our campus community of the resources we provide every day to our students, faculty and staff. TU's Counseling Center offers a full array of services, including after-hours assistance. Many of our services are available either in-person or remotely based on student preference. Find more information at towson.edu/counseling or by calling 410-704-2512 to speak with a counselor anytime, 24/7. TU’s employee assistance program, Guidance Resources, offers someone to talk to and resources to consult whenever and wherever you need them by calling 855-410-7628 to speak to a counseling professional. TUPD also offers a variety of safety-related services including a Mobile Crisis Response Team, the SafeWalk and SafeRide initiatives, the SaferMobility app, and more. Let us not allow acts of crime to define our university or diminish the sense of safety and belonging that every member of our TU community deserves. We will use every resource at our disposal to protect the safety of all those who are a part Towson University. Sincerely, Mark R. Ginsberg, Ph.D. President