Editor’s Note: This article has been edited to reflect updated information regarding the matter.
On Sept. 30, the University of Massachusetts Police Department was notified of a transphobic homophobic incident that occurred in Van Meter Residential Hall. Students living in the residential hall were notified a week later on Oct. 8.
“A student discovered a homophobic slur and threatening words lightly scratched into the door of their room,” stated University spokesperson Mary Dettloff.
No suspect has been identified at this time.
“I do think it’s absurd that, after the email was sent out, Van Meter residents had to wait a week to figure out what actually happened. That week was full of festering rumors about what happened and a deep fear of who would be next,” said August Huber, a Van Meter resident and Stonewall Center employee who attended the meeting.
According to Dettloff, the UMPD officer who responded to the incident took statements from the students targeted and “neither indicated they felt concern for their safety.” The Physical Plant was also notified to remove the words from the door and campus resource information was provided.
To address the incident, the residential hall hosted a “Community Space for Dialogue” on Oct. 14. According to an email sent by Van Meter and Butterfield Residence Director Lindsay Feitler, the meeting was meant to allow students to “come together as a residential community and stand united in denouncing this cowardly act,” as well as ask questions.
According to Dettloff, the meeting was not mandatory, and about 25 to 30 students attended.
Huber added that the meeting was “emotionally draining, to say the least.”
”While it was nice to complain and hear other residents echo my complaints more eloquently, it felt pretty empty other than that,” Huber said. “It felt like residents were often going in circles with the [residential life] staff without a solid conclusion.”
According to Huber, one of the issues discussed during the meeting was a debate over whether the hall should be heavily monitored by security cameras.
“After the dorm meeting, I haven’t seen anything in the way of action… It’d be nice to get a follow up email, maybe,” Huber said.
If a suspect is identified, Dettloff stated that “they would face the student disciplinary process under the Code of Student Conduct, and punishment would range up to and include expulsion.”
Zac Brenna can be reached at [email protected]. Irina Costache can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @irinaacostache.
Phil William • Nov 10, 2021 at 12:06 pm
I spent 4 years at UMass Amherst back in late 70’s and early 80’s and loved the campus, the worker’s and just the overall experience. I was a young man majoring in science and had no biases or hate anywhere in my mind. I respected all people no matter their sexuality. I read alot and studied alot. Most people I have known who were threatened by others sexuality either were uneducated or just plain ignorant. Zero tolerance is the only way racism and hate will be defeated. No person has right to attend a state University with any feelings of hate for others. My only wish is that this person changes his tune now instead of waiting 20 years to mature and educate his spirit that we all deserve to be respected and loved as human beings and that hate of any kind will be erased in time.