Three Binghamton University students were attacked at 3 a.m. Sunday near Hawley Street in Downtown Binghamton.

Rebecca Lisoski, Alyssa Lebowitz and Richard Salmon were heading to the house where Lisoski and Lebowitz live with 19 other students.

The three were crossing the intersection at Hawley Street and Exchange Street, two blocks away from the police station, when the light changed and a dark Jeep honked at them. According to Salmon, a senior majoring in financial economics, a passenger in the car yelled at them while driving past, and then the car pulled up by the girls’ home.

Two women and one man quickly exited the car and approached the students and a physical altercation ensued. According to a statement released by the Binghamton Police Department, all three assailants are in their mid-twenties and of medium build.

Lisoski, a senior majoring in business administration, said that they did not know their attackers and had never seen them before.

“We watched as three doors opened and two women and a man exited the car, quickly approached us and grabbed both girls by the hair while the man tried to restrain me with his hands,” Salmon said.

Lebowitz, a senior majoring in psychology, ran into her house to notify the police after being pushed by one of the women. The other female attacker dragged Lisoski by the hair until Salmon managed to free her, and told her to run inside the house as well.

“They were dragging me so much on the concrete that my jeans have huge holes — they were ripped open,” Lisoski said. “They just kept punching me and I put my hands up to protect myself but I really couldn’t fend them off that well.”

According to Salmon, the three attackers then asked him to hand over his belongings. He resisted, and one of the women swung to hit him. He grabbed her hands to throw her off. The three then got back into their car and drove away.

“Rich protected us the whole time,” Lisoski said. “He saved my life, and was able to make sure Alyssa wasn’t injured.”

Binghamton Police came shortly afterward, and took a statement from the three students, but Lisoski said that they were unhelpful.

According to her, the police hesitated to categorize the incident as assault, even though it was later classified as one. The initial responding officers referenced that the injuries she sustained were not severe enough to label it an assault. The police also said that they would not begin looking for the attackers that night, because it was too late in the evening.

She added that they did not call an ambulance even though she informed them she was badly hurt. Lisoski spent over seven hours in the hospital the following day, receiving treatment for a knee laceration and neck injury.

Lisoski met with Binghamton Detective Carl Peters on Monday. Peters said that although they would look for the attackers and check surveillance around the city for a license plate number, the chances of arrests are slim.

The three students met with Milton Chester, the assistant dean for off-campus services, on Monday afternoon to discuss how the University can better protect students Downtown.

One idea they have is for a safe-ride program, and are in the process of setting up a meeting with BU President Harvey Stenger. Lisoski said that if the University is unable to help, they will try to set up a chartered ride program on-campus with student volunteers instead.

“We think a safe-ride program is really imperative to protecting students who live off-campus,” Lisoski said. “I feel the school is getting larger in population, but the police force simply doesn’t have enough man power to support our safety, especially if we live down the street from the station and they wouldn’t even offer to patrol more.”

According to Ryan Yarosh, the director of media and public relations for the University, BU is working closely to support the three victims and prevent issues in the future.

“We are extremely concerned about this off-campus incident and are working with the victims and their families to make sure they have what they need in terms of counseling, academic assistance, etc.,” Yarosh wrote in an email. “We are also referring them to any other support services they require. Their safety is our highest priority.”

The Binghamton Police Department (BPD) is encouraging anyone with information relating to the investigation to contact the Binghamton Police Detective Bureau. Informants can remain anonymous.