Members of a banned fraternity attacked a home for LGBTQ students at Bucknell University — banging on windows and doors while residents locked themselves inside, it was reported Monday.
A resident adviser in Fran’s House, on campus housing for LGBTQ students, said residents saw men from a banned fraternity peeing on the porch and swinging a metal bar at a flag pole that was flying the pride flag.
About 20 men shouted things like “this isn’t your home!” on Thursday as residents waited inside for campus security to show up.
The men were reportedly part of the banned frat Tau Kappa Epsilon, which used to live at the house before they were kicked out two years ago.
University President John Bravman and other administrators acknowledged a “horrific” incident and pledged support for LGBTQ students in a Friday letter to the campus community.
“We are both outraged and sorrowful that the residents endured this violation of the space that is critically important to them as a community,” the letter stated.
“These actions will not be tolerated.”
The university has hired an outside firm to investigate potential violations of the student code of conduct. It’s also asking the firm to look into campus security’s response after residents of the house said responding public safety officials laughed and “bonded” with the ex-frat boys.
“It is clear from multiple accounts that the students violated the physical space and, far more importantly, the residents’ sense of place and security,” Bravman said in the letter.
Residents at Fran’s House, on campus housing for LGBTQ students, saw men swinging a metal bar at a flag pole that was flying the pride flag. Getty Images/iStockphoto“Further, it is equally clear that Bucknell Public Safety’s response to the incident was lacking in myriad ways.”
Mike Ferlazzao, a spokesman for the school, told The Post that because of the active investigation no more could be said on the incident beyond the letter.
Many of the descriptions of the event came from a letter to the president from RA Tyler Luong, who described securing the building while the men tried to get in. At one point, he said he helped residents hold down a window as silhouettes stood menacingly on the other side.
“Can you possibly imagine seeing the fear that was in the eyes of my residents?” Luong’s letter said.
“Because it wasn’t imagination for me. I saw it In the eyes of my residents and in the reflection of my own eyes in the bathroom mirror.”
Students in Fran’s House issued a collective statement Saturday asking that the building be made a permanent home for the LGBTQ community.
“What happened to this house is abhorrent. Appropriate actions must be taken by the Bucknell Administration to ensure nothing like this will ever happen again,” the statement said, according to the Daily Item.
TKE lost its status as a frat with the university after hazing incidents that included members wearing dog collars, the Washington Post reported.
