Bucknell University condemns ‘horrific’ attack on LGBTQ residence: ‘We are outraged and sorrowful’
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Bucknell University is condemning the acts of male students who attempted to break into a LGBTQ+ house.
The University released a statement on their website acknowledging an incident took place where multiple men approached a home that formerly housed the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity until the group was removed two years ago.
“We write to acknowledge and condemn a horrific incident that occurred last night at Tower House, the Fran’s House affinity residence and center of student life for our LGBTQ student community, and to state our unequivocal support for all LGBTQ Bucknellians,” The statement read.
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The university said they were “outraged and sorrowful” that the students residing in the house had to endure “this violation of the space that is so critically important to them as a community.”
In a letter addressed to Bucknell University President John Bravman, residential adviser Tyler Luong described 20 former TAE members coming to the Frans House affinity residence and center of student life for their LGBTQ student community on Thursday.
“’Let us in!’, ‘This isn’t your home!’, ‘This is our home!’,” the men said according to Luong.
Loung wrote that he advised his residents to lock the doors and windows as the men banged against them. He also wrote someone was swinging a metal bar at the pride flag on display in front of the house and one of the men urinated on the front porch.
“Tell me President Bravman, what would I do if they had managed to get into our home?” Loung asked.
To make matters worse, Loung said he and his residents waited too long for public safety to arrive and some of the officers laughed with the men when they arrived.
“As a student, how can I call them Public Safety when they arrived late to the scene, and then ENABLED that behavior?! Why am I required to call Public Safety during emergencies if they make light of an emergency? President Bravman, there was no safety,” Luong wrote.
The university said they retained an outside firm to conduct an investigation into the incident and possible violations into the student code of conduct. They also said they engaged an outside firm to look into public safety’s response.
“We cannot erase the ugliness and subsequent trauma of last night’s transgression against the students of Fran’s House and, implicitly, many others, but we can commit to addressing it in a way that protects LGBTQ Bucknellians and better ensures their safety in the future,” the university said.
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Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Email: agilbert@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bucknell University condemns ‘horrific’ attack on LGBTQ residence: ‘We are outraged and sorrowful’