On Thursday, Sept. 11, at 2:30 p.m., Kansas State Student Union employee Thomas Epting was arrested on four counts, including rape, sexual battery, criminal restraint and kidnapping. 

An anonymous employee at the Student Union said the arrest was unexpected. 

“It took me by surprise because he seemed like a really nice guy,” the source said. “He was married and has a kid, so I was really shocked to find out about this.”

According to the K-State Police Department, the offense was committed Sept. 9 at 10 p.m., while the report was filed on Sept. 10 at 6:40 p.m.

The anonymous source hopes this incident does not negatively affect the students’ opinion or view of the Union. 

“I hope that the Union can learn from this incident and make the necessary adjustments to show the students that they value their safety and that behavior like this isn’t tolerated here,” they said.

Michelle Geering, director of news and communications services, said the university’s top priority is public safety.

“The safety of faculty, staff, students and visitors of campus is of utmost importance to the university,” Geering said.

The Union may need to reconsider its hiring process after this incident, the anonymous source said.

“The Union’s background check only goes back seven years, but from what I’ve heard, Mr. Epting is a repeat offender, with a similar charge on his record 12 years ago, but since the Union’s check only goes back seven years they didn’t see that,” the source said.