Police investigate suspicious restroom alterations

March 23, 2016

Marmian Grimes

Facilities Services and the UAF Police Department continue to work on identifying, investigating and repairing suspicious alterations to some restrooms on campus.

Facilities Services staff members first discovered the alterations on Thursday afternoon, March 17. They were tracking down the source of a water leak in the basement of the Bunnell Building and, in the course of that work, entered a mechanical space and discovered that a portion of the ventilation ductwork connected to wall vents in two stalls in a women's third-floor restroom had been removed. Removal of the ductwork allowed direct viewing from the mechanical space into the stalls. Facilities Services staff contacted police, who then checked the other women's restrooms in the building. On the second floor restroom on the west end of the building, they also found missing ductwork. It's not clear how long ago the ductwork was removed, but the ducts were very dusty.

After discovering those alterations, Facilities Services began examining other restrooms on campus and discovered that a screen looking into a women’s restroom in the Fine Arts Complex had also been tampered with and allowed viewing into the restroom.

In both cases, Facilities Services staff members have repaired the vents and taken steps to ensure they can no longer be tampered with. Crews will continue surveying restrooms and locker rooms throughout campus to make sure there are no other instances. The UAF Police Department will continue to investigate these incidents.

In the meantime, if you notice anything suspicious in a campus restroom or locker room, please contact the UAF Police Department immediately at 7721.