UCLA’s sorority row under private guard after insane homeless threats: ‘We called him the screamer’

UCLA’s sorority row is being terrorized by aggressive homeless men threatening and harassing terrified sisters.

Students revealed a relentless pattern of menacing encounters from vagrants targeting the women daily as they walk to and from campus.

They describe men yelling vulgarities, making sexual remarks and approaching them on sidewalks near the houses, including one man they dubbed “the screamer.”

Now the UCLA Panhellenic Association — the university’s largest women’s organization — has brought in private security guards to patrol overnight.

Launched in early April, the program now watches over the 600 to 800 block of Hilgard Avenue, where 10 sorority houses stand housing hundreds of girls, every night from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m.

Student Ani Hovanesian, 20, told The Post: “We had a meeting with UCPD a few weeks ago and it didn’t go well.”

“They seemed unaware of the issue and not really proactive. They kept turning it back on us like ‘why aren’t you calling 911 or reporting any of this’ and it’s like ummm, we are and that’s why we’re here.”

Catherine Nichley, 20, said: “100%, I don’t feel completely safe. The weird part is that it’s usually the same three homeless men hanging around this row, typically between 40 and 60 years old, often sitting at the bus stop.

“There’s the ‘Hilgard Screamer,’ who just yells randomly all night and no one does a thing about it.

“These men stare into your soul. They make lewd comments, and I’ve actually yelled back, ‘What are you looking at?’ because it feels so creepy.”

Caroline Timko, 19, said: “I wish there was more security. I rarely see anyone patrolling, maybe one campus police officer here and there during the day.

“I honestly feel safer walking near the frats because there are so many cops there. It’s scary to walk anywhere else, and we can’t even enjoy our evening walks anymore.

“We’ve seen homeless men sleeping on the front lawns of sorority houses. It’s crazy.”

She added: “Stockton, my hometown, is already considered dangerous, so you’d assume that going to UCLA and living in Westwood would feel much safer. But honestly, that hasn’t been the case. Some of these men will actually follow you for blocks.”

Two other female students, walking along sorority row Tuesday, echoed the girls’ comments, saying: “This morning, on my way to work around 7 a.m., the ‘Hilgard Screamer’ was yelling at the top of his lungs. We’ve learned to tune him out because it’s nonstop.

“One sorority house last year even had a man with a knife banging on their door. It really hasn’t gotten much safer.”

Student Skyler Moses added to KTLA: “I think it makes people feel safe that someone is physically here. We have a big group chat throughout Panhell about incidents that happen on the street just so everyone is aware. Having a house mom. But there’s no security within the house.”

Unhoused individuals have also caused repeated incidents of lewd and alarming behavior at the top California college.

The concerns have been especially troubling for sorority members who regularly cross nearby Westholme Avenue to reach UCLA’s campus.

Panhellenic leaders plan to continue the private security initiative if it proves effective, while also highlighting the broader concern female students should not have to personally fund extra protection.

UCLA Panhellenic Council president Ella Hernand told the Daily Bruin it had brought in On Call Security Services for help.

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

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

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

Sonja Shaw, candidate for California state superintendent, who if she wins would serve as an ex officio member on the governing board of University of California, was outraged.

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She told The Post: “Young women on UCLA’s sorority row now need private security just to feel safe on campus.

“This is a direct result of Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass’s dangerous experiment in radical governance. Los Angeles has descended into utter chaos under their soft-on-crime policies that coddle vagrants and criminals.

“Enough is enough. It’s time for California voters to demand real change at the ballot box and restore safety, sanity, and common sense.”

UCLA has been approached for comment.