The early morning hours of Saturday Oct. 15 brought fear and disappointment to the Iona College community after one of their beloved security guards was harassed while on duty.

The incident happened at 1:47 a.m. in Loftus Hall when an intoxicated guest used inappropriate language towards the security officer, according to Vice Provost for Student Development Charles Carlson.

The guard was “attempting to intervene in a scuffle between this guest and several students while the guest was trying to re-enter the building. The security officer requested assistance and several other members of Campus Safety and Security responded as well as the off-duty New Rochelle Police officer,” said Carlson.

One student said that she had seen the security guard not long after the attack. “He was working and we stopped to talk to him, and ask him how his night was. He responded that it wasn’t so great, that a few kids had given him some trouble when he tried to check their IDs,” she said.

The student also said that the intoxicated man “apparently swore at the guard using derogatory that.”

“I feel that one of our core values is the fact that we are a caring community and as such it is important that we choose our words wisely and treat each other with respect,” said Carlson who also stressed that even if students do use inappropriate language amongst themselves, it could still have implications.

“That is one reason why it is so important for peers to have an expectation of respect and appropriate behavior at all times,” he said. ” It is one of the best ways we can ensure that Iona will continue to thrive as a “caring”