Portland Police are seeking help in identifying a suspect in an early Monday morning sexual assault of a Portland State University student as she walked to her dormitory.

The suspect is described as a man in his 30s, with shaggy light brown hair, pronounced cheekbones and an unshaven face, Portland Police said. He also may have been wearing a dark jacket and jeans.

The assault was reported around 3:14 a.m. The 27-year-old victim had been walking back to her dormitory from Southwest 10th Avenue and Southwest Yamhill Street, according to Portland Police spokesman Pete Simpson. At some point, she realized a man was following her, he said, and then was hit over the head. She awoke in an alley behind her dormitory at Southwest 10th Avenue and Southwest Market Street.

The victim did not know the suspect, police said.

Portland Police ask that anyone with information about the suspect or who may have heard or seen anything related to the assault to contact Detective Jason Christensen at (503) 823-0894.

Scott Gallagher, a spokesman for Portland State University, said a team of counselors, doctors and others are reaching out to the student and her family to offer assistance with anything they may need. In addition, the school has issued a "timely warning" to students to caution them to be aware of their surroundings and to remind them of safety resources available to them.

This is the second sexual assault by a stranger this year on the PSU campus. Last May, a woman was not affiliated with the university, reported being assaulted by a stranger who entered her hotel room at the University Place and Hotel Conference Center.

And last November, a woman who was also not affiliated with the university was sexually assaulted near Southwest 10th and Southwest Market. A campus public safety officer saw the two suspects, chased them down and took them into custody. About a month later, a student was followed into a PSU building restroom by a man who exposed himself to her.



Police also are reminding the community that those who are sexually assaulted can seek help from the Sexual Assault Resource Center of Oregon, which runs a 24-hour support line at (503) 640-5311. The bureau also offers free self-defense classes through its WomenStrength and GirStrength programs. For more information, call (503) 823-0260 or visit www.portlandonline.com/police/womenstrength.

-- The Oregonian