Mob of ex-frat boys under investigation for harassing LGTBQ students by urinating on porch, exposing themselves, and trying to break into their home
- Around 20 former frat boys harassed the residents of an on-campus LGBTQ house at Bucknell University.
- The men yelled, urinated on the porch, and exposed themselves to residents, according to an open letter.
- The university is investigating the incident and the "lacking" response by public safety officials.
Pennsylvania's Bucknell University is investigating a mob of former frat boys after students living at an on-campus LGBTQ house complained about being harassed, BuzzFeed News reported.
Tyler Luong, a residential adviser for the LGBTQ home known as Fran's House, said that around 20 former Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity members tried to break into the housing on May 13.
The male students shouted, "let us in," "this isn't your home," and "this is our home" as they banged against the building's windows and doors, exposed themselves to a resident, and urinated on the front porch, according to a letter sent to the university's president John Bravman.
The former fraternity members are also accused of "swinging a metal bar at our flag pole that displays our pride flag," the letter said.
Fran's House is "LGBT-friendly, gender-neutral housing" on Bucknell's campus and is described as being a "safe place for any LGBT individuals and allies at all times," according to a Facebook page.
It was previously the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity home until it was derecognized by the university two years ago following allegations of brutal hazing rituals.
Luong alleges that the harassment was not initially taken seriously by campus public safety officials.
"When Public Safety arrived, they laughed at the situation," the student wrote. "President Bravman, the officers bonded with our offenders, reminiscing their college days and calling them handsome young men. President Bravman, the two officers didn't even speak to me," Luong added.
Bravman and other university officials condemned the "horrific incident" and said that it "will not be tolerated in an official response to the incident."
The letter recognized a "lacking" response by Brucknell's public safety officials. This will be investigated in an investigation by an external firm, it said.
An outside firm will also conduct an immediate investigation into the incident and consequent punishments for the former frat boys.
"We 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," the letter concluded.