Stranger Harasses Female Students

OPD Increases Campus Security

Several female students have faced unwanted harassment from a disheveled looking middle-aged man this week, causing both the Department of Security as well as the Oberlin Police Department to increase the intensity of normal campus security procedures. Director of Security Keith James implied that one man was the perpetrator of each of the separate incident, saying, "Security and the Oberlin police department have stepped up our patrols - we also have a good description of the individual."

Each of the reported incidents occurred either in or near academic buildings to females who were alone. "It's been only female students we've received reports from," James said.

The most recent incidents occurred yesterday, when two female students reported separate incidents of harassment at approximately 2:15 p.m. in Mudd Library. One student claimed that as she was sleeping on the third floor of the library, a tall, black male disrupted her by closing the nearby blinds. The offender commanded her to go back to sleep, and proceeded to grab her hand and hold it. He then began stroking her hair, and suggestively told her they were alone. The student urgently insisted her need to leave and descended to the Mudd's main level, where she called Security.

Meanwhile, a second female student reported a similar instance of harassment at Mudd as Security officers investigated the prior incident. According to the security report, a 5'10" black man in his mid-40's with acne scars on his cheeks approached her, grabbed her hand, and "asked her questions about eating lunch", leading her toward the sparsely-populated stacks area. She was able to excuse herself without incident, and later reported the incident to a security officer.

Security also received a report of a similar disturbance at approximately 3:30 on Wednesday from a female student working in a studio at the Allen Memorial Art Building. The student claimed that a 5'8" black male in his 40's wearing a blue denim shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap approached her and put his arm around her. He then asked her in a whisper whether she was expecting anyone. The student retorted loudly that the man in the adjacent student would return shortly and excused herself to leave. She immediately reported the incident to a security officer, who conducted a search for the suspect to no avail.

A student reported the first incident of harassment this week to security officers on Tuesday. A female student was standing in front of the Conservatory when an approximately 5'10" male wearing "disheveled clothing" approached her. The man informed her that he was drunk and suggested that they walk about the campus together. He then grabbed her arm and kissed it. The student reported the incident to security several hours later.

Security released a press statement yesterday, saying "all incidents are being considered serious in nature." It will release an all-campus mailing today, informing students of this week's incidents of harassment, and exhorting all students to avoid isolated areas and to travel in groups as often as possible. "We're hoping to bring this to closure as soon as possible," James said.