No suspects have as of yet beenapprehended. HUPD spokesperson Steven Catalano would not comment, saying the investigation is ongoing.
Queen says he believes alcohol played a role in the incident.
“I heard that there was the distinct odor of alcohol,” Queen said. “So we can speculate that the individuals were intoxicated.”
Queen said the incident will serve as a reminder of the perils of allowing strangers to enter the Yard dorms.
“This has given the Summer School the opportunity to tell people to be more cautious,” he said. “They tend to assume that everyone following them in has a right to be there.”
Summer School Director Elizabeth C. Hewitt sent an email to all proctors on Tuesday morning advising them to tell their students to use caution in the future.
“Warn students to call the police if they see strangers around the dorm—the words that come to mind are “lurking,” “idling,” or “trying to make conversation with students,” all of which the young men who got into Straus were doing,” the email read.
—Trevor J. Miller contributed to the reporting of this article.
—Staff writer Eugenia B. Schraa can be reached at schraa@fas.harvard.edu.