Student Assaulted in Second Reported Anti-Gay Incident in One Week
Updated at 2:31 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 6.
A student was physically assaulted in a bias-related incident near the intersection of 36th and N Streets, witnesses reported to the Department of Public Safety early Sunday morning. It was the second time in one week a student was the victim of a reported assault that appeared to be motivated by anti-gay bias.
According to a DPS Public Safety Alert, a male suspect repeatedly asked the victim, “Are you a homo?” before physically assaulting the victim. The victim was taken to the emergency room of Georgetown University Hospital by GERMS to be treated for injuries sustained in the assault.
A female student was allegedly physically assaulted on Canal Road last Tuesday by two unknown males after being taunted on the basis of her perceived sexual orientation. She said she was wearing a T-shirt expressing support for gay rights at the time.
The PSA sent after Sunday’s reported assault, which was e-mailed to the campus community on Sunday afternoon, said the incident was reported at about 1:32 a.m. Sunday but did not specify when the incident took place.
The suspect was described as a white male wearing red and white face paint and a black leather jacket. DPS notified the Metropolitan Police Department and an investigation is in progress, the PSA said.
A slur was found posted on the door of the LGBTQ Resource Center on Monday. Shiva Subbaraman, the director of the center, said she found the note, which was directed at her, on the door at 8 a.m. on Monday morning. She said she contacted DPS immediately and filed a report. According to DPS, the note read, “Homo go home to India.”
About 50 students gathered in Red Square at 5 p.m. on Sunday evening to protest the reported assaults. The rally, which was organized by Carter Lavin (SFS ’10), followed by a march from the front gates of campus to the Intercultural Center.
Members of GU Pride subsequently held a meeting in an ICC classroom to discuss campus security, the university’s response to the incidents and the safety of LGBTQ students at Georgetown. About 25 students attended the meeting.
About 200 people attended a vigil in support of the victims of the reported assaults at 8:30 p.m. Monday night in Red Square.
Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson, Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Equity Rosemary Kilkenny and Vice President for Mission and Ministry Fr. Philip Buroughs, S.J. sent an e-mail to the campus community at about 5 p.m. Monday evening encouraging students to report suspicious activity to DPS and to use the university’s Bias Reporting System.
The university will meet with representatives of the MPD Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit this week, the e-mail said.
Nov 01 2009 at 9:09 p.m.
Enough is enough. When will this stop? Where were these so-called witnesses when a fellow Hoya needed their help?
Nov 02 2009 at 12:37 p.m.
"Where were these so-called witnesses when a fellow Hoya needed their help?"
1) By "so-called witnesses", do you mean they were imaginary or did not actually see anything?
2) You should log off immediately and go walk the streets confronting any violent attackers no matter their size or perceived threat in case a "fellow Hoya" needs your help. The people reported the incident and may have been too scared or incapable of assisting. Ever think of that?
3) To be fair, I'm sure you're just upset that there have been two bias-related incidents this week. But I ask, is enough enough already only now that two sexuality based attacks occurred? Crime and violence and lack of security are a universal issue at Georgetown (seemingly increasingly so). I would be much more sympathetic to you and GU Pride if there were protests and actions taken for every assault and not just those involving their own community. But I guess when a short person or a "nerd" is beaten up, that is OK.
Nov 02 2009 at 5:17 p.m.
As a former Hoya, I am not surprised by these recent hate crimes. Horrified, yes, but not surprised. It's time for Georgetown to protect its students. Come on Hoyas, show up to the rally and declare hate crimes unacceptable.
Nov 02 2009 at 5:33 p.m.
Just because the PSA doesn't say the witnesses helped doesn't mean they didn't. The purpose of the PSA is to let the community know something has happened. It's not a news story or blog that describes every detail of an incident.
Nov 02 2009 at 9:20 p.m.
SECURITY F-CKING CAMERAS, PLEASE!! Every Georgetown building should have security cameras on the exterior corners, near entryways and exits, and at least one per hall. There is no reason for the University to allow this to go on, but it will keep happening as long as people know they can do what they want with impunity.
Desecrate a religious statue? We won't catch you unless we happen to see you out there with a bucket of paint.
Spray paint a slur in a classroom building? We won't catch you.
Smash the window of Wisey's? We won't catch you.
Hop into bed with some girl who you don't know and try to touch her? Nah, not gonna catch you either.
And now beat down someone you think might be gay? Sure, add that to the list of things you can get away with because no one has done anything to stop any of it.
Nov 03 2009 at 12:27 a.m.
It's terrible that these crimes are happening on campus, but the student response is promising. I'm glad to see students join together to demand change. I wish they would do this after every serious crime that occurs on or near campus.
It's time for DeGioia and Todd Olson to step up to the plate and ensure that their students are safe.
Nov 03 2009 at 12:59 a.m.
As a matter of fact, I believe there is a security camera on the corner of 36th and N, on the corner of Nevils. I wonder if DPS will even think to check it.
Nov 03 2009 at 9:04 a.m.
The opening words of last night's "Message to the Campus Community":
"As a Catholic and Jesuit university, we are committed to fostering a community that is welcoming to all and values understanding, tolerance, inclusion and respect. Over the past week, we have seen several incidents take place on or near campus that are especially troubling because they have targeted members of our community with homophobic language and disrespect. . ."
As a Catholic and Jesuit university, Georgetown explicitly endorses a doctrine that is homophobic and disrespectful. It's not possible to have it both ways, to legitimately object to equal rights and equal respect under the law, and then object when this demand for mistreatment leads to . . . mistreatment. Asking for tolerance and respect rings false coming from an institution whose cultural and religious tradition advocates for just the opposite.
Nov 03 2009 at 12:24 p.m.
"As a Catholic and Jesuit university, Georgetown explicity endorses a doctrine that is homophobic and disrespectful"
Are you kidding me?
Georgetown is the nation's oldest Catholic school, but it's arguably the nation's most progressive Catholic school. What other Catholic campus has a LGBTQ Center? Do you have any idea how much Georgetown is criticized in the Catholic Church for how incredibly progressive it is within said church? And you sit here and call Georgetown "homophobic" because it promotes the teachings of the Church but yet clearly promotes the values of and provides all the resources it can for ALL of its students, even those who openly violate the church's teachings?
Like it or not, you attend a Catholic school, but I don't see how you can make the argument that Georgetown lets that stand in the way of protecting and caring for its students.
Nov 03 2009 at 12:32 p.m.
@Mike
Mike, if you feel this way, then maybe you shouldn't be involved with the Georgetown community. Georgetown makes no apologies for its Catholic and Jesuit identity, and nor should it. I'm not getting into a debate involving the Catechism and delicate issues involved here, but if Georgetown's identity and traditions are so "disrespectful," then perhaps this place just isn't for you. Just sayin'
Nov 03 2009 at 2:02 p.m.
@Mike, your comments are exactly why Georgetown needs to drop "Problem of God" and teach a mandatory course on basic Catholic and Jesuit principles, because you clearly don't have any understanding of them. Frankly it amazes me that someone who could write those remarks will walk away with a Georgetown diploma.
Nov 03 2009 at 3:26 p.m.
Georgetown may be extremely progressive. And even the Catholic Church may not be as close-minded as some may think that it is. But generally speaking, a huge portion of the anti-gay contingent in this country subscribes to their bigoted and hateful beliefs because of some usually ill-founded construction of their religion. So associating religion w/ anti-gay sentiment is not ridiculous. Maybe Georgetown shouldn't be the target, but the Church and certainly other Christian communities are certainly not helping put a stop to the problem of anti-gay violence.
Nov 03 2009 at 4:17 p.m.
If the attacker was wearing red & white face paint, I have to think other people would know who it was. How many people could have been wearing such face paint that day? Surely, it would be really easy to find him?
Nov 03 2009 at 9:12 p.m.
Let's just start with something as simple as language. The word "homo" is not acceptable. It is as derogatory as the N word is in describing race.
Nov 03 2009 at 10:00 p.m.
Veronica,
That's just not true. The N word is on an entirely different level. "Homo" is just a shortening of "homosexual." Outrage about the current situation at Georgetown as not a reason to go overboard and make incorrect comparisons. It will just make people resent the valid cause of preventing sexual orientation-based hate.
Nov 04 2009 at 5:25 p.m.
Tim, If you were gay, you would not like to be referred to as "That homo, Tim." Just a shortening, indeed.
Nov 04 2009 at 9:14 p.m.
I wouldn't like to be called "The homosexual, Tim," either. I would just like to be called "Tim."
Homo is not the N word. When gays are slaves, we can have this discussion. Until then, stop being foolish or intelligent people will get frustrated by your unnecessary and frankly stupid argument.
Nov 04 2009 at 9:46 p.m.
Tim, Another thought. When the gays get into the military, and they will, would you approach a man in uniform, and say, "Hey homo!" And then explain it is not derogatory, you just wanted to ask for directions.
Nov 05 2009 at 1:06 a.m.
@alumni, the attack occurred on Halloween so there were indeed a good number of people in red and white facepaint.
As for the report DPS released, I find it hard to believe that "red and white face paint" was the best description the victim gave. Was it red and white like a clown? Divided down the middle like a Phillies fan might have it? I didn't see anyone with red and white face paint, but I'm sure that if a more thorough description was given, someone would come forward. But I have the utmost faith in all of DPS' "ongoing investigations" [/snark]
Nov 05 2009 at 9:53 a.m.
AYKM, "most progressive Catholic school" is like "youngest centenarian". The Catholic Church is a decidedly unprogressive body, and the school's flaunted affiliation with it is an affiliation with a body that explicitly condemns homosexuals to eternal damnation. Whatever else Georgetown may be, and whatever other steps they take to promote "understanding, tolerance, inclusion and respect", they will be limited by their affiliation with a body that is opposed to the understanding, tolerance, inclusion, or respect of homosexuality.
Veronica, your argument is pretty weak. Do you regularly walk up to black people with the greeting "Hey black person"? I hope not. Nor should anyone do the equivalent to homosexuals. I agree that 'homo' is more derogatory than 'homosexual', because it is less formal, but not that it is on the level of 'the N word'.
(P.S., I noticed there are two 'Mikes' in this discussion. The Mike who posted on November 2nd is a different Mike from the Mike who posted on Nov 3rd. I am November 3rd Mike, and from now on I'll be "Mike C.")
Nov 05 2009 at 12:56 p.m.
Veronica,
When gays are denied the right to vote, I will agree that "homo" carries with it the same historical and oppressive baggage that the N word does. Until then, your argument is absurd, and, were I black, I would be offended by your attempt to compare the paths to equality traveled by blacks versus homosexuals. As a white person, I'm just baffled by your desire to compare apples to oranges, especially when it does nothing to advance your ultimate cause—-a cause that, by the way, is correct on its own merits, without trying to rival racial civil rights.
Nov 05 2009 at 3:49 p.m.
Tim, you need to calm down again. You're just trying to stir up the pot and no one cares. Even at the vigil the other night, we all talked about how we need to stand up against hate in all forms.
And yes, of course, queer people and people of color have traveled their own paths towards justice, but that doesn't mean we don't share a lot of the same difficulties and strategies to fight back. To be rather blunt, LGBTs have actually been beaten and killed because of their identity (if you haven't noticed).. a transgendered woman of color was murdered in a targeted killing in DC only a few weeks ago.
So as long as we've got people spreading hate -- of any kind -- I think folks have a right to call you out on it. I don't really give a damn whether you think one word is worse than another. The problem is that hateful speech creates a climate in which hate crimes occur.
Nov 05 2009 at 5:01 p.m.
Dave, if you read up towards the top, I was just responding to Veronica's need to bring race comparison into the discussion. I agree with everything you said.