Zesiger pool assault under police investigation, new facility policies implemented in response
On July 25, a Timely Warning notice was made public following five reported incidents of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14 at the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center. The assault is said to have occurred on July 24 between 7:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. while the victims were swimming in the lap pool. The suspect, described as a male around 30 years old with a mustache, was last seen wearing a lime green shirt and carrying a duffel bag.
“On July 24, MIT’s Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation (DAPER) received a report that a number of minors who were visiting MIT to use the Zesiger Center pool were touched inappropriately by another patron while swimming in the pool,” Director of Athletics Anthony Grant wrote in an emailed statement to the Institute community the following day.
MIT Police are actively investigating the case and urge anyone with information to come forward. They are equipped with specially trained officers who handle sexual assault cases with sensitivity and confidentiality. MIT provides various resources for those affected by sexual assault, including the Violence Prevention and Response (VPR) team and the Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response Office (IDHR). The community is encouraged to remain vigilant, utilize campus safety resources like SafeRide and Blue Light emergency phones, and report any suspicious activity to MIT Police.
The notification was made in compliance with the federal Jeanne Clery Act, which mandates timely warnings about crimes that pose a threat to the safety of the campus community.
Grant’s email the following day also announced a set of new procedures and policies to be implemented by the facilities staff for the safety of pool-goers. Among these changes were the implementation of an empty buffer lane between groups of minors and other patrons; enhanced signage for incident reporting; staff protocol review; and increased observation of the area.