A man inappropriately touched a University of Minnesota student Thursday afternoon as she was walking near the intersection of Essex Street and Huron Boulevard, University police said.

According to a crime alert sent to the University community Friday, the student was walking on the west side of Huron Boulevard, about three blocks from the Superblock, when an unknown man grabbed her shoulder. When she stopped, he grabbed her genital area over her clothing but walked away after she confronted him.

According to the email, the suspect is a white, middle-aged male between five feet three inches and five feet four inches tall with a medium build. He was described as wearing a blue and gray jacket, dark pants, a gray winter hat and glasses.

This is the first University crime alert since spring semester classes began.