Strange Campus Encounters Prompt DePaul Safety Alerts

University says males inappropriately touching students while attempting to get phone numbers, posting females' phone numbers online

DePaul University has issued a pair of safety alerts this month warning of men seeking the phone numbers of female students for nefarious purposes on the Lincoln Park campus.

The first alert, issued on Sept. 8, warns against a male in a silver SUV who approached a female student near the corner of Webster and Racine and began flirting with her. The male wouldn't leave until she provided her number, and hugged her before he left to a degree that constitutes battery, according to the alert.

School officials say the same thing may have happened to another student on campus.

Another alert, issued Monday, warns of several incidents of men approaching female students also attempting to get phone numbers. The numbers were then posted to a members-only web site without the students' permission.

DePaul freshman Brooke Riewer believes she was targeted by one of the men Thursday.

"He touched my face and my back and tried to kiss me. It was broad daylight in the quad," Riewer said.

She said the man told her he had run out of power on his cell phone and needed to text from hers. She says he claimed to be the head of a dating web site and began touching her inappropriately on her back and shoulder during the encounter.

"He made me take his number and text him ... he said his phone was dead," Riewer said.

"Eventually he was like, 'Are you a good kisser? It got really weird and uncomfortable for me."

Riewer pointed out the man to campus security who proceeded to question him, but determined that no actual crime had taken place.

DePaul officials encourage any student who feels like she's being harassed on campus to move to a safe place quickly and call Public Safety at 773-325-7777 on the Lincoln Park campus or 312-362-8400 on the Loop campus.

Contact Us