Carla Robinson, the graduate student who was stabbed Monday said, contrary to what was reported from campus police, she did not resist her attacker, and she was not walking alone.
In an interview with The Daily Helmsman, Robinson said she had just left class in McCord Hall and was walking toward the Zach Curlin parking lot.
"I was walking to my car, a guy came up behind me, said 'hey,' stabbed me, took my purse and ran off," she said. "I did not struggle with him."
Campus Police originally said Robinson was walking alone from McWherter Library and resisted giving up her purse, which caused the unknown attacker to stab her in her thigh - all of which is incorrect information, Robinson said.
"We've talked to her, and she's telling us that she didn't resist," said Derek Myers, assistant director of public safety. "One witness saw everything and said (Robinson) tried to pull the purse away.
"(The reporting officer) really didn't get to talk to (Robinson) because she was hurt."
According to Robinson, an entirely different story was presented.
She said there were classmates walking behind her, and though she wasn't talking with them, she wasn't very far from the group.
"There was a girl, and she even told the police she was 10 feet behind me," she said. "This is someone who will stab someone in front of witnesses. He doesn't care."
And while one witness may have told police that Robinson was struggling with her attacker, two students who said they witnessed the event e-mailed The Daily Helmsman corroborating Robinson's story.
The suspect did escape with Robinson's purse and later tried to use some of her credit cards before she canceled them, she said.
Though she did not fight back and was stabbed for no apparent reason, Myers said police still recommend complying with a robber unless they ask you to get in a car.
"That's always what we tell everybody," Myers said. "If you're being robbed it's better just to give up the property than to risk injury for yourself."
In this case, Robinson said she did everything police advise students to do.
She was not alone, and she did not resist her attacker.
She said if there were one piece of advice she could give other students on campus, it would be to "walk in bigger groups."
Despite the shocking nature of Monday's incident, police services' crime statistics show the number of reported crimes since the beginning of the year has dropped 20 percent when compared with the same time span from last year.
U of M police, in conjunction with Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW), put up new lighting in the Zach Curlin parking lot in 2003 to help make the campus safer.
Bruce Harber, director of police services, said extra patrols would focus on the east side of campus for the next few days, but Robinson said her faith in the "safest large campus in the state" has been shaken.
"I feel the statement that was issued does a complete disservice to the students," she said. "That's why I'm not very happy because this could happen to someone else."
