RALEIGH — North Carolina State University students are on alert after the recent attack of a faculty member in a campus restroom. The attack has a striking similarity to an attack in the same building two years ago.

Warning signs have been posted in 800 different spots across the campus reporting that an intruder attacked the female faculty member Friday night in Winston Hall on Hillsborough Street. Female staff, faculty and students say they are uneasy.

Student Anna Massilla says she tries to be alert.

The previous attack occurred in February, 1995 when, as in this instance, the woman was on her way into a restroom when the attacker subdued her. In each case, the attacker put his thumb in the victim's mouth to keep her from screaming, but each woman fought back and each time the attacker fled.

Crime Prevention Officer Larry Evans says law enforcement will be looking closely at the similarities between the two incidents.

Campus police immediately increased patrols inside Winston Hall and other campus buildings, and a task force has been formed to offer safety suggestions to the chancellor. Ideas the task force has come up with include giving women faculty and staff priority parking, installing so-called panic buttons in campus restrooms, providing emergency cellular phones which dial police, and possibly installing security cameras.

NCSU Chancellor Larry Monteith says all those things will be considered.

Chancellor Monteith will get recommendations from the task force next Thursday, and a new grant is allowing the school to immediately install more lighting on campus.