Albert Wellstein’s harassing behavior toward women on the UW-Madison campus led him to become the first––and only––person on the university’s “persons banned from campus” list.

On Wednesday evening, Wellstein, a 52-year-old UW-Madison alumnus, was arrested at the Red Gym after violating a restraining order the University filed against him in May of 2007.

According to UW Police Department Detective Peter Grimyser, the restraining order was “based on a number of different complaints over the years,” and was the first that UW-Madison has ever had.

Under its terms, Wellstein was barred from campus until 2011.

“The judge was very explicit that he could not be on campus,” Grimyser said. Wellstein had inappropriate contact with university students and staff members, making people feel “very uncomfortable.” Grimyser said Wellstein would stop the behavior before he could be charged with stalking, and would instead start harassing someone new.

At the restraining order hearing Wellstein appeared “unmoved” by the strong emotions the affected students felt toward him, Grimyser said.

According to Grimyser, one girl Wellstein had been harassing was a member of a returning Peace Corps volunteer group.

Wellstein, a Peace Corps volunteer from 1981 to 1983, began regularly attending the group’s meetings on campus. The girl eventually switched churches after Wellstein followed her repeatedly to church.

Wellstein has been charged in past years with sending threatening computer messages and battery, after he attacked his ex-wife’s father, among other charges.

Grimyser said he urges students to call UWPD immediately if they see Wellstein on campus or any other suspicious behavior.