Rash of LGBT Assaults Hits Washington Campus

Police at Washington State University are investigating three recent attacks against LGBT students on or close to campus, reports KXLY.

The first assault happened October 16 outside a residence hall and involved openly gay student Kristopher Shultz. "I heard someone shouting at me from behind," Shultz told the local news affiliate. "I turned around and got hit in the face and I don't remember anything after that."

Two days later another student was attacked by a group of three people a block from campus. The most recent attack against transgender student Jackson Hogan happened in a campus parking garage. Hogan was walking to an elevator, when he heard a man yell a transgender slur before grabbing him from behind.

"I hit the floor and he kicked me repeatedly," Hogan told KXLY.

WSU administrators send an e-mail to students and faculty yesterday, recognizing that the attackers may be targeting LGBT students and offering escorts for anyone uncomfortable walking alone across campus.

The gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community also convened last night to discuss how to keep each other safe. It's a task that LGBT students at this Pullman, Wash., school have become used to.

"It's a constant environment of being afraid," Shultz said. "It's just come to the surface now." (The Advocate)

Reader Comments

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Name: Margaret Pietila
Date posted: 2008-10-27 2:32 AM
Hometown: Pullman, Wa

Comment:

I really appreciate this article, and would like readers to know this isn't the end of the issues on my campus. I am a student at WSU and have a personal interest in the safety of my friends and peers, as do several people on our campus. Since the two brutalizations, ASWSU has worked hard to work towards a safer campus for the GLBT community. As a result, there have been several incidents of hate crimes and slurs against the Senators, the district reps for each part of our campus. I feel that these shouldn't go unnoticed, or unannounced. It is important for people to know the attacks don't just stop with the assaults on my two friends.

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