Students on edge after sexual assault near Fordham University Rose Hill campus

BELMONT (WABC) -- A Fordham University student says she was sexually assaulted in an alley very close to the Rose Hill campus in the Bronx.

The incident happened late Saturday night on East Fordham Road in the Belmont section, and has put everyone on campus on high alert.

"I think it's terrible. I live just down the street, and it's terrifying," said student Rebecca Norris.

An email blast went out to students, faculty, staff and guests on Sunday, detailing what a 19-year-old said happened to her in the alleyway - a place Norris says she only walks through during the day.

"I've never actually seen what it looks like at night, but it doesn't look like it would look nice," Norris adds.

The victim told police around 10 on Saturday night that two men hanging in the alley sexually assaulted her. The victim goes to Fordham and had just left campus through the Walsh Gate. She was alone when she got into the alley. One man allegedly held her arms behind her back, while the second suspect groped her breast and behind. Then, she says, one man was unzipping his pants, but was startled by a group of people walking towards them. Police say the suspects took off on East Fordham Road.

"I don't walk past that alley, I try to stay on the main road where there are more people - even at night there are a bunch of students walking," said student Claire Segota.

The alley, however, is a popular shortcut. Eyewitness News watched several people use the alley, which is between a Dunkin' Donuts and an apartment building.

"It hasn't been a great choice, just because night or day it is not a particularly well lit area," says Caitlin Vogt, admitting she has used the shortcut before.

Police say they will take a look at footage from the many security cameras on the building - one of the cameras points on the alleyway, and another points in the back, focusing on a parking lot.

Students say they are now changing their mind about where to walk.

"I think I'm definitely going to walk through the store from now on - I think a lot of students will have similar reactions to that," Vogt says.