An arrest has been made in one of two alleged sexual assaults that happened on NIU’s campus earlier this semester.

NIU student Maiusz Domaradzki of Elgin was arrested in conjunction with a sexual assault that was reported on Aug. 26 in Neptune West.

An investigation continues on another sexual assault that allegedly occurred the same weekend in the residence halls.

University Police detective Sgt. Matthew Kiederlen said a warrant was issued for Domaradzki’s arrest Aug. 29, and a few days later he turned himself in.

A preliminary hearing for Domaradzki has been set for Oct. 5.

Sexual assaults on campus are taken seriously, not only by the police department but also by NIU’s Judicial Office.

Kiederlen said sexual assault is a class one felony, punishable by four to 15 years in prison and a fine not exceeding $25,000.

Larry Bolles, director of NIU’s Judicial Office, said recommended sanctions or a sexual assault offense usually will result in removal from the university.

Last year University Police dealt with four separate cases of sexual assault. In the wake of those attacks, University Police officially instituted their Sexual Assault Response Team (S.A.R.T.).

The seven-man unit has been around unofficially for a number of years but officially became a unit at the start of the semester.

The unit will go into more formal training on how to deal with sensitive subjects like sexual and domestic assault, Kiederlen said.

Working closely with S.A.R.T. will be University Health Services, Housing and Dining Services and NIU Judicial Office and Counseling Services.

In almost every case University Police has dealt with the victim knows the offender, Kiederlen said.

And in those known situations, consent can be the major factor. Bolles said the best way to avoid anything that could be construed as a sexual assault is for students to understand that under Illinois law, a person under the influence of drugs or alcohol cannot give sexual consent.