Security Alert

Monday, April 8, 2024

The below narrative contains information regarding STALKING that was reported to the University of Chicago Police Department. Campus security alerts are notifications sent to the University community as required by the Clery Act.

The following information was reported to the Department of Safety & Security:

A university student reported that over the last several days, the student met an unknown male on campus who they believe was posing as a student, and who asked for the victim’s contact information. The victim reported that since meeting the individual, they have received continued unwanted communication from the suspect, often by different phone numbers. The victim described a male who carries textbooks and has been seen frequenting publicly accessible spaces on campus, including coffee shops on and near campus. The University of Chicago Police Department is investigating this case.

  • The University is concerned about the safety and well-being of the community, and is committed to taking necessary action to prevent, correct, and where indicated, discipline instances of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
  • This incident will also be included in the opt-in UCPD daily crime bulletin. Sign up for this bulletin here. 
  • If you have any information related to this incident or if you witness any suspicious activity, please report it immediately to the Chicago Police Department (911) or the University of Chicago Police Department – 123 from a University phone or 773.702.8181 from other phones.

Additional Resources:

Reporting Sexual Misconduct:

If you are ever in a situation where you feel that you are in danger, call UCPD immediately at 773.702.8181 or Chicago police at 911. If you choose to report sexual misconduct to the University of Chicago Police Department, a criminal investigation can begin with your consent following a conversation with an officer.

If you have been the victim of a stalking, you are not alone. There are people and organizations within the University of Chicago community that can provide you with support (including confidential support), resources, and information about resolution options, including the University’s investigation and disciplinary processes and reporting to law enforcement. Please note that retaliation for reporting is strictly prohibited by University policy.

Title IX Coordinators at the University of Chicago:

  • Bridget Collier, Title IX Coordinator and Associate Provost of Equal Opportunity Programs, 773.702.5671, bcollier@uchicago.edu
  • Elizabeth Honig, Senior Deputy Title IX Coordinator, 773.702.4913, ehonig@uchicago.edu

Confidential Resources:

  • Sexual Assault Dean-on-Call: 773.834.HELP (4357) via direct paging system. Available 24/7. For additional information visit: https://csl.uchicago.edu/get-help/dean-call-program.
  • Student Health Service: 773.702.4156 5839 or South Maryland Avenue, R-100.
  • Student Counseling Service: 773.702.9800 or 5555 South Woodlawn Avenue. After hours contact - 773.702.3625. For more information: https://wellness.uchicago.edu/mental-health
  • Employee Assistance Program (Perspectives): 800.866.7556. Available 24/7

Further Assistance:

  • University Police: 773.702.8181; Available 24/7.
  • UChicago CARES: https://cares.uchicago.edu. To make a report: https://cares.uchicago.edu/make-a-report/
  • Prevention Education and Outreach: A significant piece of the work of addressing campus sexual misconduct, harassment and discrimination is the work of primary prevention. Effective primary prevention entails educating community members to understand issues related to:
    • Consent
    • Sexual Assault
    • Domestic and dating violence
    • Stalking
    • Bystander intervention
  • University of Chicago Medicine Emergency Room: 773.702.6250 or 5656 South Maryland Avenue
For more information on additional resources and reporting options, please visit UChicago CARES. 

Additionally, there are several external resources that can assist survivors including, but not limited to: The YWCA (866.525.9922) or Illinois Legal Aid Online.

For a summary of additional community resources, visit: https://cares.uchicago.edu/support-and-resources/community-resources.

Quick Takeaways

  • If you have any information related to this incident or if you witness any suspicious activity, please report it immediately to the Chicago Police Department (911) or the University of Chicago Police Department – 123 from a University phone or 773.702.8181 from other phones.

  • Security alerts are issued by email and posted to the Department of Safety & Security’s website when an incident occurs that should be brought to the immediate attention of the University community. Security alerts are based on information reported to the University of Chicago Police Department. The reported information may not have been investigated or confirmed at the time the security alert was issued.

  • Physical descriptions of a suspect, including race, are included in security alerts only when they provide several details that might help distinguish the suspect's appearance from the general population.

  • Comments or suggestions about security-related issues should be directed to: ucpd-pio@uchicago.edu.

Additional Information on University of Chicago policies and resources regarding sexual misconduct:

  • "Stalking"  means a course of conduct (two or more acts) directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of a third person, or to suffer emotional distress. Stalking behavior includes but is not limited to: following a person; appearing at a person’s home, work, or school; making unwanted phone calls; sending unwanted emails or text messages; leaving objects for a person; vandalizing a person’s property; injuring a person’s pet; and monitoring or placing a person under surveillance.
  • If you witness a situation where someone that appears to be unsafe or makes you uncomfortable and needs help, intervene if it’s safe to do so, elicit help from a friend, or go to a safe area and call for help.
  • Seek medical help immediately if there are concerns of drugging and someone starts to exhibit symptoms of dizziness, nausea, memory loss, breathing, or motion difficulties, or if they are acting disproportionately intoxicated relative to the amount of alcohol consumed.
  • To learn more about peer education prevention efforts, contact the Resources for Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Program.

Comments or suggestions about security-related issues should be directed to: ucpd-pio@uchicago.edu.

Please Note

The University of Chicago Police Department patrol area boundaries are 37th Street on the north to 65th Street on the south/Cottage Grove Avenue to Lake Shore Drive (39th Street to 60thStreet)/Evans Avenue to Stony Island Avenue (61st Street to 64th Street)/65th Street (Ellis Avenue to University Avenue).

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