Campus police warn students after attacks at Stanford

Two separate attacks on women at Stanford University over the weekend have students concerned and triggered an alert from campus authorities Monday night.

The Stanford community was being advised to know where the emergency blue light phones are located. 

"Those incidents are definitely alarming," said Stanford senior Surya Omar.  "For me, it reminds me that I need to be vigilant where ever I am."

At 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning, a female student was walking back to her dorm through the Kennedy Grove area on campus when a man tackled her from behind.  Another passerby saw the attack and began yelling, scaring off the man.

The attacker was described as white, in his 20s, about six feet tall and weighing approximately 180 pounds.  He was wearing a dark shirt and baseball hat and reeked of alcohol.

15 minutes later, a man walked into an unlocked room in a dorm and climbed into the bed of a sleeping woman and tried to remove her clothing.  The woman woke up and got the man to leave her room.

The victim said she didn't know the man. She described him as Latino in his 20s, about five-foot-eleven and wearing a red flannel shirt, blue jeans and a grey baseball cap.

"It's alarming to hear that, but I know in my dorms I always keep the door locked. It's just kind of a reminder,"  said Stanford freshman Miram Ghanbari.   

Police also wanted to remind students that Stanford is an open campus and outsiders are often wandering through the area. 

Police said women need to take precautions.

"Use well lit travel routes, walk in pairs, carry your cell phone if you have one and know that we have blue tower phones that go directly to 911," advised Stanford Police Chief Laura Wilson.

Police said they were investigating to see whether the two attacks may be related and are asking anyone who may have more information to give them a call.