An attack on two college students on a suburban campus this week is being investigated as a possible gay-bashing.
Swarthmore College officials said two students, one of whom attends the University of Pennsylvania, were walking on a field on the campus of the Delaware County college early Sunday morning when they were attacked by at least six teens.
The five boys and one girl kicked and punched the two students, knocking them to the ground and stomping on their heads and necks.
The teens fled and both males, after seeking treatment at the student health center, were transported to a local hospital, where they underwent X-rays and CT scans and received treatment for cuts and abrasions, according to The Daily Gazette, the college’s newspaper.
Dean of Students Elizabeth Braun issued a letter to the campus community earlier this week detailing the incident and mentioning that it may have stemmed from homophobia.
Braun said in the memo that the student and his friend ”were being affectionate with one another when they were approached by the high-school-aged students. While it still isn’t clear what prompted the assault on our student and his friend, it does appear that homophobia could have been a factor in the attack.”
The Daily Gazette carried an anonymous interview with the victimized student, who said he and his friend were walking back from a party when the teens approached them and asked them for alcohol.
The student told the paper he asked the teens if they were underage and refused their request, at which time the confrontation became violent.
In a conversation with PGN Wednesday, Braun said she didn’t believe the attackers used homophobic words during the incident, but noted the two students were holding hands when they were approached.
“The important thing from our perspective is, regardless of what motivated the attack, we will not tolerate physical violence of any kind on our campus,” she said. “This type of incident is very rare and, as both a small and a closeknit community, we are taking this very seriously.”
The student told The Daily Gazette that, while the assault may have been prompted by the alcohol request, he couldn’t “imagine them attacking a guy and a girl, two girls [or] two guys they thought were straight.”
Braun said the campus is an open one, and area residents are permitted to access the grounds.
The victims were unable to describe the attackers, which Braun said was part of her motivation for the campus-wide letter.
“We hope that someone out there saw something and will be able to provide more information,” Braun said. “The investigation is ongoing, and both our Public Safety Department and the Swarthmore Police Department are working very hard to get any additional information.”
Braun said the attack belies the campus’ commitment to diversity.
“It’s a very welcoming community to LGBTQ students and all students,” she said. “One of our core values is around creating a diverse, inclusive learning environment for students, faculty and staff, so that’s one of the reasons this has been particularly difficult for our campus to grapple with. It’s just so antithetical to our values. But I think the victims are really appreciative of the outpouring of support they’ve received and the fact that the campus is really focusing its energies on supporting them and the entire community while this investigation continues.”
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].