Bucknell University is condemning the acts\u00a0of male students who\u00a0attempted to break into a LGBTQ+ house.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The University released a statement on their website\u00a0acknowledging an incident took place where\u00a0multiple\u00a0men approached a home that formerly housed\u00a0the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity until the group was removed two years ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The university said they were\u00a0“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.”<\/p>\n
In a letter addressed to Bucknell University President\u00a0John\u00a0Bravman,\u00a0residential adviser\u00a0Tyler\u00a0Luong\u00a0described 20 former\u00a0TAE members coming to the Frans House\u00a0affinity residence and center of student life for\u00a0their\u00a0LGBTQ student community\u00a0on Thursday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2019Let us in!\u2019, \u2018This isn’t your home!\u2019, \u2018This is our home!\u2019,\u201d\u00a0the men said according to Luong.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Loung\u00a0wrote that he advised his residents to lock the doors and windows\u00a0as the men banged against them. He also wrote someone was swinging a metal bar at the pride flag\u00a0on display in front of the house and one of the men urinated on the front porch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me President\u00a0Bravman, what would I do if they had managed to get into our home?\u201d Loung asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To make matters\u00a0worse, Loung said he and his residents waited too long for public safety to arrive\u00a0and some of the officers\u00a0laughed with the men when they arrived.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs 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\u00a0Bravman, there was no safety,\u201d Luong wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The university said they retained an outside firm to conduct an investigation into the incident and possible violations into the student code of conduct.\u00a0They also said they engaged an outside firm to look into public\u00a0safety’s\u00a0response.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d the university said.\u00a0<\/p>\n