UCLA sororities hired private security in response to patterns of street harassment on Hilgard Avenue, the Panhellenic Council president said.

UCPD received reports of multiple incidents on Hilgard this year, with complaints including trespassing and threats with intent to terrorize, according to published UCPD crime statistics.

Ella Hernand, president of the UCLA Panhellenic Council, said 10 of the 11 Panhellenic chapters have houses on Hilgard Avenue – with each housing about 40 to 60 residents.

The Panhellenic Council hired On Call Security Services – which provides security for residential, commercial and industrial properties – to patrol Hilgard starting April 6. The security guard patrols daily from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. across sorority row, a Panhellenic Council spokesperson said in a texted statement.

All 10 sorority houses on Hilgard can continue hiring private security if the program helps reduce harassment, the spokesperson added in a written statement.

“I don’t think that it should come at an additional cost,” Hernand said. “But I also know there are limitations to what UCPD can do. It’s a very thin line.”

UCPD is aware of the reports of harassment and has increased evening patrols on Hilgard, although previous data indicated that less violent crime occurred in that area than in other parts of Westwood, said Jeffrey Chobanian, the captain of UCPD’s operations bureau, in an emailed statement.

“We recognize that some incidents may be perceived as gender-based,” Chobanian said in the statement. “We approach these reports with that context in mind, emphasizing prevention and victim support through UCLA resources.”

Hernand said consistent harassment on Hilgard has made residents concerned about their well-being. She added that she regularly communicates with sorority chapter presidents and the Panhellenic Council’s risk management.

“Instances of harassment seem to be more frequent in recent years – and also this year,” Hernand said. “Alumni and advisors who lived on Hilgard before are usually surprised and say that it wasn’t like this when they were here.”

Hernand added that she believes some people lack trust or are not aware of UCPD’s formal reporting processes.

Zoe Campbell, a third-year English student and member of the Chi Omega sorority, said she and her housemates experience harassment on Hilgard at least once a week when walking to and from their sorority house.

Campbell said one man hissed at people walking on Hilgard, while another person left stacks of illegible letters outside the sorority houses.

“There’s the yelling guy, who has been more frequent,” Campbell said. “He’ll walk on the sorority side of the sidewalk, and you can see girls walking behind him in the street to fully avoid him, or they’ll just cross the street just to avoid him.”

Hernand said consistent yelling, inappropriate comments and aggressive behavior have also made Hilgard residents – especially women – feel unsafe.

Many residents have taken precautions by crossing the street or waiting before entering their homes because of the harassment incidents, Campbell said. She added that people have become uncomfortable leaving their homes alone at night.

“It’s more annoying when you’re by yourself and it’s nighttime,” Campbell said. “You just want to get home.”

Hernand said her goal is to help women living near UCLA feel safe.

“It can, quite frankly, be a scary experience walking home from class – which shouldn’t be the case for anyone,” she said.