A string of sexually harassing and threatening telephone calls late Wednesday and early Thursday morning have left many Iowa State students frightened.

About 12 female students reported receiving harassing telephone calls from a male calling from an off-campus telephone. Department of Public Safety officials would not release exactly what the caller was saying.

“The people who are calling us don’t recognize the caller,” said Chuck Cychosz, manager of crime prevention, research and training for DPS. “[And the victims] don’t know each other, at least not that we can determine.”

Cychosz said sometimes people think harassing telephone calls are a funny joke, but he said this isn’t a prank — it’s scaring people.

“We’re certainly treating these calls seriously, particularly given the fact that there is a pattern,” he said. “We are not necessarily thinking this person is outside everyone’s door, but I think anyone who receives harassing phone calls should be calling the police and helping us to get an investigation started.”

When a victim calls DPS to report the crime, Cychosz said officials explain what they think is occurring to the caller to ease their fear.

“We certainly would like to know right away when they’re being called,” he said. “If it’s reoccurring, put a notebook and a pencil by the phone and log the time of the call, the date and any comments you hear before you hang up. Certainly, we are not encouraging people to keep talking to this caller.”

DPS officials also recommend the use of answering machines to screen calls.

DPS Patrol Officer Aaron Delashmutt, who is investigating the crime, said DPS currently is trying to track down from where the calls are coming.

“We receive reports of harassing telephone calls throughout the year, but [these calls] being connected and the number of them is uncommon,” he said.

Delashmutt said if the caller was to be apprehended and convicted, possible criminal punishment would vary. “There are various levels of seriousness in the charge of harassment based on the content of the messages,” he said.

Cychosz said students need to be taking common-sense security measures to protect themselves in light of the harassment spree.

“Lock your doors, do not travel alone at night, and take advantage of the Campus Escort Service,” he said.

DPS officials also recommend the following telephone safeguards:

• Do not panic when the phone rings; it may not be a crank call.

• Hang up as soon as you hear an obscenity, improper question or no response to your “hello.”

• Never provide any personal information to callers. You have absolutely no obligation to provide your name, address, credit card numbers or any other detailed information.

DPS urges anyone who has received a harassing or threatening telephone call from this unknown caller to contact them at 294-4428. The dispatcher line is monitored 24 hours a day.

If it is an emergency, call 911.