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The person “approached from behind, covered the victim’s mouth, and attempted to force the victim into the room,” Harvard said.
FILE — The Lowell House dormitory at Harvard University seen in October 2025. Sophie Park/The New York Times
A person entered a Harvard University undergraduate residence Tuesday evening and allegedly assaulted a student, the university said in an alert.
Harvard University police and Cambridge police officers responded to Lowell House on Holyoke Place around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Harvard said in a campus-wide alert. Lowell House is one of the university’s 12 residential houses.
An “unknown male” entered the residence hall without authorization after following someone else into the building, the alleged victim told authorities. As the victim entered their room, the perpetrator “approached from behind, covered the victim’s mouth, and attempted to force the victim into the room.”
“The victim screamed, prompting several nearby residents to exit their rooms, at which point the suspect fled the area,” the alert said.
The victim was not injured.
Authorities said the incident is “an active criminal investigation,” and officers are searching for a suspect. A spokesperson for Cambridge police referred any comment to campus authorities.
Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.
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