Assault raises fears on OCC campus

Amy Spurgeon and Jessica Garrison

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE -- Students at OCC were warned to take extra

safety precautions this week after two men pulled a female student into a

women’s restroom Friday and held her down.

The woman, whose name was not released, yelled for help and another

student came running to investigate, scaring the two assailants away,

police said.

The two men fled on foot and have not been caught, according to

police.

Police said they are treating the incident as an assault and battery

and are taking the issue seriously because it occurred on a college

campus. No similar incidents have been reported, said Lt. Tom Winter of

the Costa Mesa Police Dept.

After the incident, campus security posted fliers all over campus,

urging students to use the buddy system or the school’s escort service

instead of walking alone, and to be conscious of their surroundings.

“Please be aware ... you may think OCC is a cocoon, a place that’s

always safe, but the truth is no place on earth is perfect,” the flier

reads.

Campus security also stepped up patrols of all parking lots, according

to the flier.

OCC security officials were unavailable for comment Tuesday evening.

“It’s scary,” said freshman Nga Vu, who said the assault had been a

topic of conversation in class Tuesday.

“I’m going to walk with friends,” she said. “And not hang around

campus, but just go home after school.”