1996 Rape in Eliot House Reported to HUPD

A woman reported to the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) two weeks ago that she was raped in Eliot House in December 1996.

The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of HUPD is currently investigating the incident, interviewing students, professors and tutors, according to HUPD spokesperson Peggy A. McNamara. McNamara said the woman has identified the man she claims is her assailant to HUPD.

McNamara said that she did not think a "rape kit"--a collection of forensic evidence done by medical professionals immediately after a rape--had been done after the alleged rape occurred.

"I believe that the only avenue they could take [for collecting evidence] would be interviews," she said.

The alleged victim's permission is necessary for HUPD to move beyond fact-gathering to an arrest and preparation for prosecution, McNamara said.

"[The CID] is working with the victim to determine how they are going to proceed," McNamara said.

McNamara said she did not know whether the alleged victim would elect to go forward with criminal prosecution.

HUPD refused to give details about either the alleged rapist or the woman who reported the rape.

Last September, Joshua M. Elster, Class of 2000, pled guilty to raping and sexually assaulting a female undergraduate in February 1998. Also in September, D. Drew Douglas, Class of 2000, pled guilty to a charge of indecent assault and battery.

In February the women who were assaulted by Elster and Douglas spoke out for the first time, prompting a wave of campus protests about Harvard's methods of dealing with rape prevention and counseling of victims of sexual assault.

Douglas was dismissed from Harvard by a vote of the Faculty last month, and Elster will face a similar vote this Tuesday.

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 declined to comment on the alleged rape.