Man tries to enter UBC lounge

Warning email sent to students after early Friday incident

UBC has sent a warning email to students who live on campus after a man tried to break in to a residence lounge where a female resident was studying.

The incident happened Friday at 2 a.m. outside the Marine Drive Building 5 lounge, where a male was seen pressing himself against the exterior window.

The man tried to enter the building, but was unsuccessful and the resident fled, said managing director of student housing and hospitality services Andrew Parr.

“She looked up from her studies, saw this individual doing what he was doing, quickly packed up and left,” he said Saturday.

RCMP and campus security were called and arrived quickly, but were unable to apprehend the man. The resident wasn’t able to provide a strong description of the suspect, Parr said.

“I think she was more focused on her own safety and obviously was a bit traumatized by the situation, and wanted to leave the area as quickly as possible.”

It’s unclear whether the incident is connected to a recent series of ‘night prowler events’ where a man was seen lurking in bathrooms and bedrooms at UBC residences, Parr said.

Police have said the night prowler incidents may be connected to the sexual assault of a 20-year-old woman on campus last week. The woman was walking alone when a man suddenly came out of a wooded area and grabbed her, violently shaking her with both arms and forcing her to the ground.

Following the attempted break-in early Friday morning, the university felt it important to send a warning email to the 9,500 students who live in campus residences, Parr said.