On Tuesday evening, an unidentified person slipped into Harvard’s Lowell House and attacked a student from behind, according to university officials. The assailant covered the student’s mouth and tried to force the victim into a room before the student screamed, prompting the intruder to flee. The student was not injured, and Harvard and Cambridge police responded to the house on Holyoke Place at around 5:30 p.m.
The campus alert that Harvard sent to the community said the person "entered without authorization after following someone else into the building," then approached and assaulted the student from behind, fleeing after nearby residents came into the hallway. Harvard University Police Department and Cambridge police both responded, and the school said the matter is an active criminal investigation, according to Boston.com.
Campus Alert Stresses Student Was Not Hurt
Harvard’s message to students emphasized that "the victim was not injured" and urged anyone with information to contact campus police, Boston.com reported. The alert did not identify a suspect, and Cambridge officials directed media questions back to university authorities.
How Lowell House Tries To Control Access
Lowell House is one of Harvard’s 12 undergraduate residential Houses and restricts entry with swipe or tap ID access for residents. House rules remind students to secure doors behind them and to call HUPD in an emergency. The Lowell House rules also spell out guidance for hosting guests and managing building access.
Investigation And Student Support Options
The Harvard University Police Department’s website notes that its Sensitive Crime Unit investigates personal and violent crimes and offers support services for victims. Students can reach HUPD at 617‑495‑1212 for urgent matters. HUPD says it can provide safety escorts, medical assistance and counseling referrals for those affected, and will coordinate with local law enforcement on criminal cases. Students or witnesses with information about the Lowell House incident are asked to contact HUPD or Cambridge police.
Lowell House Case Lands Amid Cambridge Safety Jitters
The assault at Lowell House comes amid heightened safety concerns in Cambridge. Less than two weeks earlier, a shooting on Memorial Drive prompted a large multi‑agency response and left two people wounded, as reported by WBUR. That episode led to increased patrols and community alerts across the area.
Harvard and Cambridge police did not identify a suspect in their initial notice, and the university reiterated that the case remains an active criminal investigation while asking anyone with video or information to come forward. Students who need support have been encouraged to reach out to HUPD, Title IX resources or campus counseling services for assistance.
