There has apparently been a recent spate of sexual assaults and harassment on the University of Leipzig’s city centre campus. The Student Council (StuRa) has publicly urged caution on social media, and the university management has stepped up security measures. On Instagram, the StuRa reports “incidents of sexual harassment in the women’s toilets of the lecture theatre building and the seminar building on the main campus” and is calling on other victims to come forward.
The Equal Opportunities Officer and the university management have also been made aware of incidents said to have taken place on April 14.
According to reports, there have been several verbal and physical assaults in the women’s toilets and in a stairwell in the seminar building on the Augustusplatz campus, university spokesperson Carsten Heckmann explained in response to a TAG24 enquiry.
The police are aware of sexual assaults that took place the previous week. ‘On April 7, an unknown man took photographs of a young woman sitting naked in the toilet at the Paulinum on the University of Leipzig campus,’ reports police spokeswoman Susanne Lübcke.
The man was then able to flee without being identified. The following day, a female student was sexually assaulted in the toilet area of the Humanities Centre. As the 22-year-old immediately dialled the emergency number, the police were able to apprehend the suspect – a 26-year-old Lebanese man – at the scene.
The police are not yet officially aware of the incidents on April 14. “It is therefore important that those affected report the incidents promptly,” said Lübcke.
The university has since stepped up security measures. According to spokesperson Heckmann, the toilet areas are now being patrolled more frequently by security staff.
In addition, from May onwards, stickers displaying the security service’s telephone number will be put up in many locations across the publicly accessible campus.
Studentinnen an Uni Leipzig belästigt: Wachschutz vor dem Damenklo