Earlier this semester, the North Wind was investigating a serial sexual assaulter, filing a FOIA and requesting information from the Northern Michigan University Police Department.

Information was very limited, and many questions have gone unanswered.  Since then, there have been reports of NMU students being roofied and another report of a second serial sexual assaulter has come up. As NMU PD has been keeping a lid on information, only releasing information due to the federal Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, students have become afraid to be on campus and feel the need for NMU PD and NMU as a whole to be more open with their investigations.

“It is deplorable that NMU has not taken the initiative of reprimanding sexual offenders against the women on campus, and I feel that my friends and classmates are not safe, considering the multiple incidents that have taken place over the Fall 2025 semester,” said NMU student Caleb Hurkmans. “Every incident alert we have received is a stark reminder that someone has been hurt in ways I cannot imagine and feels like a formality on NMU’s end and, in a way, an inconvenience for the institution.”

The most recent report from NMU, sent on November 14, reads:

On 11/13/25, the Northern Michigan University Police Department was made aware of an incident involving the following information: A victim reported being sexually assaulted on 10/28/25 at approximately 2am in Maple West Hall. It was reported the suspect encouraged the victim to consume a large amount of alcohol to the point where they were not capable of giving consent, before assaulting them. Also, on 3/16/2025 a different victim previously reported a sexual assault involving the same suspect in Birch West Hall. This complaint was not investigated by police at the request of the victim. Additionally, a further anonymous complaint of possible sexual assault involving the same suspect was observed on social media on 11/13/25. The suspect has been identified and an investigation is ongoing.

Every time there is a sex crime related report, NMU Alert sends out a campus wide email to students informing them of the act. As shown above, but usually with a host of general crime prevention related tips. This Fall 2025 semester has seen two Cleary Act reports of serial sexual assaulters, as well as an email which compiled reports of five incidents of students who whose symptoms aligned with being slipped roofies in the City of Marquette or on campus. The email was sent out on October 16. Nearly every month this semester has seen an alert about sex crimes on or near campus.

“I mean, I fear in general, for everybody’s safety,” said NMU student Abby Derringer. “It’s crazy to think about something like that happening at a smaller school. You wouldn’t think that stuff would happen, because we’re not really a party school. I don’t remember any of this happening last year to this extent.”

“And unfortunately, there’s going to be one or two instances of bad people,” said NMU Student Alex Rochette. “There seems to always have to be bad people. But it seems like party after party after party somebody’s being like ‘Hey, I got drugged.’ This girl I know that works in the dining hall got roofied. There needs to be precautions in place, but I don’t know what those precautions are going to be. A big one to stop sharing your drinks with people or leaving them unattended.”

Some students feel that NMU PD is doing a fair job of alerting students, thanks to the federal act, but think the department has more it could do.

“I think they could always do more,” Rochette said. “But for what they are doing, I guess they’re doing it productively, because after the email went out, I feel like everybody was talking about the email because it was posted on Yik Yak.”

Yet after this, even with repeated emails to NMU PD from the North Wind, there was no further information released on first serial sexual assaulter. No formal press release was held, or has been, and the only information is released through the Clery Act; which is mandated. Students seek NMU PD to update them on the campus criminals.

“No, they need to give [the information] to us,” said Derringer. “At this point, it causes more fear for people because they don’t know if the person is still on campus.”

With the freshman orientation harping on the safety of NMU’s campus, students are questioning it.

“As an incoming freshmen, I just went through orientation and they assured us that nothing like that really happens on this campus, and this is one of the safest campuses,” said Rochette. “Yeah, it feels like they lied to us.”

When a sexual crime happens on campus, it usually goes through two different NMU branches simultaneously, Title IX and NMU PD. One handles criminal charges and the other handles a breaking of NMU Policy, which could result in suspension, expulsion, the removal of college credits and more. Which has its own investigation.

“So we look at the allegations,” said Associate Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX, Harger Boal. “What is the complainant saying  occurred, and if we take that at face value and say it is true, would it be a policy violation? If the answer is yes then we can do an investigation.”

If there isn’t a policy violation, Title IX will still provide support through informational meetings and give resources to the complainant. But when there is an investigation, Title IX investigation is in depth and it goes through testimony, sees the complainant as well as the defendant spoken for by advisors, and is oversaw by a hearing officer to determine any break in NMU Policy before reaching a verdict.

This entire process has a policy to remain quiet, and only involves the alleged victim and perpetrator; even if another party reported it. Even though Title IX is involved with sex crimes, they are completely separate from NMU PD.

“They have a totally separate process,” said Boal. “They are operating under different parameters and ramifications.”

“Because it is reported to Title IX  and he has to report it doesn’t mean that person, that complainant after Harger has met with them wants to move forward with internal University investigation or an NMU PD investigation,” said Executive Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX, Janet Koski.

“PD might even send out an alert based on Clery requirments without having really talked to anyone, because they are potentially getting information from the Title IX office but not necessarily meeting with people or doing an active investigation. It could be, but also could not be, every situation is different,” said Boal.

When a crime happens in a town, city or county there is usually a press release sent by the reigning law enforcement department. NMU PD has not sent any to the county newspaper or even the campus paper, as it does not seem to be part of their routine.

Students are growing in fear as they don’t see any updates on investigation, and without knowing anything and seeing the rise of sex crime on campus with a campus of majority women the fear is there. To some it almost feels as if nothing is being done, but that is just an illusion due to the NMU PD not keeping students or press informed.

“The fact that NMU is so willing to not say anything… makes them [sexual assault victims] feel so much more at fault,” said NMU Student DB. “When that happens again, so few people are going to be willing to come forward because what the hell is the school gonna do?”

It leaves a lot of student wondering, does the Northern Michigan University Police Department prioritize damage control for the university or the feeling of safety for students?

More information including how to report to and the processes of  Title IX can be found here.

Dial 911 for the following types of emergencies: police assistance, fire, ambulance. For NMU Health Center emergencies, call 906-227-2355.

Have you or someone you love been sexually assaulted or abused? You are not alone. Contact RAINN’s National Sexual Assault hotline 1-800-656- 467 which is open 24/7 to connect with a real, live person who’s trained to help.