A St. John's university student describes an incident that led to a sexual assault charge as "nothing serious."

Farhood Azarsina, 27, an engineering student at Memorial University, appeared in provincial court on Thursday on a sexual assault charge.

A female student told police she was in an elevator in the University Centre on Wednesday evening when she was sexually assaulted.

Azarsina spoke with CBC News after his court appearance.

"It happened in less than a second and then you regret it a lot," he said.

Asked what happened, he said, "I just kissed her breasts in less than a second. As I say, I mean, nothing serious."

Azarsina, an Iranian who is working on a Ph.D., was ordered to post $5,000 bail, surrender his passport and report to police on a weekly basis.

He has also been told to stay away from certain buildings, including the University Centre and the university's Arts building.

Ivan Muzychka, a communications official with Memorial, said campus security systems are working.

"I would encourage students and others and visitors to the campus as always to maintain a vigilant stance," he said.

Azarsina is scheduled to appear again in court in October.