New School Alerts System Alludes to Attack on Student

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Photo by Sonya Lustig

This story will be updated as more information becomes available 

New School students and faculty were sent emails and text messages late Thursday night after a student was allegedly assaulted off-campus.

“The student, who is Asian, was punched or hit by an unknown man, who disparaged her Asian identity and referenced coronavirus,” said Director of Campus Safety Thomas Ilicito and Interim Chief Enrollment and Success Officer Michelle Relyea in an email to students Friday.

A report was filed on Feb. 12 by a “27-year-old female” who was punched by the assailant, but “she was not hospitalized, and no arrests were made,” an NYPD spokesperson told The New School Free Press. “Suspect fled on the scene, east down on 14th street.” 

Several students became aware of the attack via an instagram post which gave a description of the alleged attacker as well as details about the assault, but the Free Press has not independently verified these claims. The Free Press contacted the student who declined to comment.

In an email to students on Friday, the university’s Office of Campus Safety expressed “horror” at the incident. “This kind of behavior has no place in New York City, one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse centers. We’re working closely with the student to make sure she has all the support she needs.”

The messages were sent out through the university’s “New School Alerts” system, which sends emergency alerts to student phones, landlines, and emails.

Some recipients received phone calls, in addition to or in place of the email. The phone call consisted of an automated voice reading the contents of the same message sent in the email. 

During the hour between the first and second alert emails, students turned to social media to voice their confusion and concerns. 

Yasmina Khartami, a media studies major at The New School commented under a post on The New School’s Instagram page “what was the cryptic email alert about?”