University of Manitoba students worried after dorm attack

An attack on a woman in a University of Manitoba dormitory has shocked students.

The student, whom CTV News is not identifying, said she woke up in her dorm room on Dafoe Road with a bang around 4:30 a.m. Friday. She said an unknown man entered her room and began attacking her. She fought and ran, banging on the door in the hall. When no one came out, she pulled the fire alarm.

Freshman Kaitlyn Podolchuk said news of the attack was “very scary and disturbing.”

“It was really scary how easily they were able to get into someone’s room,” she said.

Podolchuk lives in the building where the incident occurred. She said she heard the fire alarm go off but didn’t know why. It was only a few hours later that she heard about the attack.

“It just makes you think about the level of security in the building.”

Since Friday’s incident, the U of M said it has increased security on campus.

“Effective immediately, we have added 24-hour security in the lobby of each residence hall building,” said Naomi Andrew, the university’s vice president for administration.

The new measures are in addition to other measures that were already in force before the attack.

“It was a burglary,” Andrew said of the attack. – So forced entry burglary. We have patrols that come through the campus, but we didn’t have someone securing those exact doors.

Prime Minister Wab Kinew said his government was aware of the incident and had contacted the university administration.

“We’re thinking, is this going to be good enough? Or is there something else to do here?” Kinew told reporters on Monday.

To ease safety concerns, the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) said it plans to expand the range of self-defense classes it offers.

“Given that this is the student reality right now, we don’t know when it might happen again,” said UMSU Chancellor Divya Sharma.

Podolczuk expressed hope that such a situation would not happen again and was taking precautions to prevent it.

“Something like this should never happen again,” she said. “We should be ready for anything at any time.”

Late Friday night, Winnipeg police arrested a suspect.

Garry Edwards Jr., 46, was charged with three counts of burglary with intent, sexual assault, robbery and breaching resistance by attempting to strangle another person.

None of the allegations were examined in court.

Edwards is a convicted sex offender. He was released from prison in November 2023 after serving 12 years for randomly attacking two women on the same day in April 2012.

He was detained in custody.