In another article I saw, the Barnard president described the victim as an ardent feminist (based on her admission essay). Maybe she felt she had the “right” to walk wherever she pleased at any time of day.
Barnard is known for being a left-wing school, lots of lesbians there.
Not saying she was one. But “lipstick lesbians” are not rare.
That would explain by she apparently tried to fight off multiple quasi-humanoid male mutants that were trying to rob her. She thought she was Wonder Woman or G.I. Jane.