A trend of “peeping toms” and public indecency has started to rise around campus, according to police department reports compiled by Officer Todd Short of the University Police Department.

On Oct. 12, the University Police reported its fourth incident of invasion of privacy this semester. A female resident on the third floor of Hopkins Hall, 1208 South First St., Champaign, observed what she believed was a cell phone protruding from a neighboring stall, attempting to photograph her while she was showering.

Kaitlyn Hornik, freshman in ACES and neighbor of the victim, was present when the victim and their floor’s Resident Advisor filed the police report. She said she was not very convinced with security in the dormitory bathrooms.

“Sometimes the doors were propped open, and then just anyone could sneak in,” she said.

Hornik also said her RA was prompt in notifying her floor and invasive cell phone photography hasn’t been an uncommon incident for the University Residence Halls, with four similar incidents allegedly occurring in the 2009-2010 school year alone. A single incident was reported at the Florida Avenue Residence Halls in Oct. 2009 involving a mirror instead of a video device and another two in the Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Hall at 906 W. College Court, Urbana, Ill., the latest occurring in Feb. 2010. Two were reported at Allen Hall in both months of August and September this semester, with only one incident involving invasive photography.

Natasha Sharp, sophomore in LAS and Allen Hall resident, said she was the first to respond when she heard a girl scream from her floor’s bathroom. While she said she did feel her RA may not have alerted her via e-mail for every incident, she also felt secure in that “it’s just a matter of being self aware of your surround”.

“If it happens, smack the phone off his hand and try to grab it,” Sharp said, “And if you can see him, be able to describe him.”

Sharp said she wasn’t worried about dorm security.

“We (are) nice (here), we hold doors open for people if we don’t them. Girls sometimes bring their boyfriends into the bathrooms. Here in a co-ed dorm, it’s not so much of a big deal, because a guy can peep just by walking past an open bathroom,” Sharp said. “It may just be a matter of changing the showers and closing them off completely.”

Both Residence Hall Directors of Allen and Hopkins halls and University Housing Assistant Director of Marketing Kirsten Ruby declined to talk about the incidents.

The University Police Department strongly encourages students to stay safe and alert when alone, keep doors and windows locked at all times and to report suspicious activity when seen.