Lily Huynh / The Cougar
On Aug. 24 at around 4 p.m. a sophomore was groped twice by a man at Student Center South. The incident occurred on the first day of classes for the fall 2026 semester.
The student, who has remained anonymous, explained that she was preparing to leave from work when she noticed the man sitting on the couch of SC, according to an article by ABC13 Houston.
As she walked past him, Love approached her and reached towards her chest, to which she moved away from and his hand hit her shoulder instead, the student said.
The victim returned to her co-workers and they accompanied her to the car. The man later came running up and grabbed her chest. Her co-workers then alerted campus police.
The suspect was identified as a 25-year-old Marcus Love who was arrested and charged with indecent assault, said UHPD.
The court records show Love has three prior convictions this year for theft of less than $2,500. The documents connected to those cases refer to him as homeless.
However, Love appeared to be well-groomed and did not immediately stand out as someone who did not belong on campus, the victim said.
Love is confirmed to not be affiliated with UH as a student or an employee.
“The University of Houston is committed to the safety and security of our students, faculty and staff,” said a University spokesperson. “As a public, state-supported institution of higher education, our campus is open to the community we serve. However, being a public campus does not mean we tolerate individuals who violate the law.”
UHPD officers have also issued a criminal trespass warning prohibiting Love from lawfully returning to campus property, UH spokesperson said.
The student believes campus security is good, but urges students and staff members to report any suspicious behavior, according to the article.
“We continuously evaluate and adjust our security measures — including physical security infrastructure, technology and active officer patrols — to maintain a safe environment for everyone while fulfilling our mission as a public university,” the spokesperson said.
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