Oregon Public Broadcasting

Students are pouring into classrooms at Washington State University campuses from Vancouver to Spokane. But concerns about safety have dampened the excitement and back-to-school barbeques.

Two female students have been attacked on the university's home campus in Pullman since last Wednesday.

Steve Hansen is with the university police. He asks students not to panic, but to walk together after dark, take public transit or ask for a police escort.

Steve Hansen: “Just let folks know where you are going and when you should be there, so that if you don't make it, they can call.”

Both women were attacked near central campus in Pullman.

The description of the attacker in both cases is similar:  a young, white male, about 5'11 and 200 pounds, wearing a hooded sweatshirt.

Hansen says the investigation has been difficult, because of the vague description and the large number of students on campus.