Two Macalester students were assaulted by a group of five men 15-20 years old on bicycles Friday night along Snelling Avenue near the campus. St. Paul police also responded to a third assault in the same area. All victims escaped with minor injuries.

In the first incident, the assailants attacked a woman as she walked along the west side of Snelling Avenue near St. Clair Avenue. The men punched the woman and rode away. She was not seriously injured, according to the Macalester College Security Office.

About 10 minutes later near Snelling and Lincoln avenues, the five young men approached the male student and asked to use his mobile phone. When the student refused, they hit him in the face and fled on BMX-type bikes, according to the security office. The student suffered minor cuts and bruises and was treated by the paramedics.

Public Safety recommends that students do not wear earphones when walking or running alone outside, especially if it is dark. Safety officers also recommend that students walk in groups and call Public Safety for an escort to a destination.

Mary Kenkel can be reached at mlkenkel@stthomas.edu.