Maroon News

Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: News

MISUNDERSTANDING AND MISCOMMUNICATION: In spite of assumptions that have been made recently, the uninvited guests at Townhouse 3A had chosen it for its proximity to their party, not its "LGBTQ Safe House" theme.

Two incidents that have occurred over the past month concerning the "Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Safe House" Townhouse have aroused indignation and anger, although one of the incidents was not a deliberate targeting of that house. 

As stated in a campus-wide e-mail by Provost and Dean of the Faculty Lyle Roelofs and Vice President and Dean of the College Charlotte Johnson, "[The townhouse is meant to be] a safe zone for those who support or are members of the LGBTQ community."   

In the first incident in mid-September, an unidentified intoxicated individual "stumbled" onto the porch of the Safe House and made derogatory comments.  

The second incident, occurring on Saturday afternoon of Homecoming weekend, involved five individuals, who had been at a party at Townhouse 2B, entering the Safe House without permission and refusing to leave when asked to do so repeatedly.   

According to junior Steve Hayden, Safe House residents were in a heightened state of sensitivity with regard to their living space. 

The five men entered through the propped-open door of the Safe House and sat down to watch television in the living room. One resident came downstairs, noticed the intruders and told them to leave. They refused, and Hayden heard the commotion. 

"I saw five increasingly rowdy guys downstairs," Hayden said. "I yelled, 'get the f--- out of our Townhouse.'"   

Four of the individuals left. Hayden threatened to call Campus Safety on the last one, who replied with a threat of physical violence. On his way out, he attempted to punch Hayden. Hayden gave him a final push out, and the intruder threw beer on Hayden and on furniture in the Safe House living room. People outside began to throw beer cups at the house and shout at them.  

A little over a week afterward, Hayden wrote a submission for the Commentary section of this newspaper reacting to the event. Campus Safety quickly began an investigation as to the true identity of the intruders.  

Continued...

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