Alleged voyeur arrested on BCIT campus, president reveals

The president ofBCIT has finally confirmed reports that RCMP are investigating the activities of an alleged voyeur on the Burnaby campus, months after the man's arrest.

The incident came to light yesterday when several media outlets reported a student had been arrested and charged for allegedly secretly observing and recording men in a campus bathroom late last year using a cellphone and a mirror.

Neither police nor BCITwould initiallyconfirmthe accused man's identity until Tuesday afternoon whenBurnaby RCMP identified him asChieh-SenYang,born in 1992.

Yangwas charged,Nov. 20, with secretly observing/recording nudity in a private place in Burnaby.

He was released on bail on several conditions including:

• Not attend the BCIT campus until completion of trial.
• Not attend Richmond Centre until completion of trial.
• Not to possess any electronic device capable of recording audio or visual media outside of residence until completion of trial.
• Not to be found in possession of any mirror or any device suitable of reverse imaging while outside residence until completion of trail.
• Attend and complete any therapy sessions given to him.

At a court hearing in Vancouver on Wednesday morning he was represented by a lawyer, but did not himself appear.

BCIT issues brief statement

In response to the revelations BCIT president Kathy Kinloch published a statement on the school website on Wednesday morning, saying that the investigation by police continues.

"The RCMP believe that there might have been further incidents and are appealing to the public to come forward if they have any information that may assist with their investigation. You may contact Burnaby RCMP Constable Clint Paisley at 604-656-3245."

Kinloch goes on to reflect on her decision not to reveal the information earlier to students, but does not explain why the information was withheld.

"This incident has also encouraged me to reflect on our communication approach with our campus community. I believe we can improve. You have my assurance we will communicate with you in a timely way in future."

However,Kinloch was unavailable for interviews on Wednesday, said a BCIT spokesperson.

BCIT Media manager Kelly Friday said the school worked closely with the RCMP, but would not comment further because it was before the courts.

"I would want to tell students that their safety is ournumber one priority," said Friday. "We do take concerns of this nature very seriously.

Burnaby RCMP were not available to comment further about the case when contacted by CBC News.

Heightened campus concerns

The president of the BCIT Student Association Dylan Smith also refused to comment on the case, but said he believes the school administration will work harder to warn students of potential problems in the future.

"I'm sure whatever they come up with in the interim, they'll bring to us as a student associationand collaborate with us to make sure we get the messaging out to students," said Smith.

However, students on campus Wednesday did not share Smith's confidence in the administration.

"Wow. I feel that is something they should have told the students right away," one male student told CBC News.

"Since we pay money to be here ... it is only our right to know what is going on here ... and if you can't tell me these things, then I think that is a violation of my personal rightsas well as the student body," said another.

"As soon as something happens, they should have posted a notice right away," said a third.

It is not the first time concerns about a peeping Tom has been raised on the campus. In 2012 a warning was issued about a similar incident by campus security.

The incident comes as several B.C. campuses tackle concerns about the safety of women.

This past summer UBC also increased campus patrols after a peeping Tom was reported on campus. UBC has also been under fire for failing to take allegations of sexual harassment of students seriously.