Two Asian female students have been the victims of attempted sexual assaults on or near campus in the past two weeks, according to a University Police crime alert.
According to the e-mail sent to students Wednesday, the same suspect approached the students in two separate incidents around 12:30 p.m. He allegedly asked the victims for the time, directions to the library and if he could help them.
The suspect reportedly tried to convince the women to go with him to a secluded area or to their apartments. He allegedly grabbed them by the wrists or hands and told them they were “beautiful,” according to the crime alert.
In one of the incidents, the suspect apparently exposed his penis to the student.
In a third incident police said is linked to the same suspect, an Asian female student received a harassing phone call around 3 a.m. The caller made comments similar to ones the other two victims reported.
Police describe the suspect as a white male with light brown hair in his 20s. He reportedly has a medium build and is about 5 feet 8 inches tall.
During the attempted assaults, the suspect was wearing a T-shirt, jeans or knee-length jean shorts.
Police are asking for assistance in the matter. If you have any information about these incidents, contact University Police Det. Marianne Scheel at (612) 624-3550.
Staff with the Program Against Sexual Violence located in Boynton Health Service can also provide assistance to students who have been assaulted. The program’s 24-hour crisis line is 626-9111.

— Staff Reports