UMass forum responds to allegedly homophobic assault

BY Kristin Palpini
Staff Writer

Published on March 09, 2007

AMHERST - In an allegedly vicious homophobic assault against a University of Massachusetts student last week, UMass Police Detective Robert A. Thrasher found one small glimmer of redemption: A woman who was a friend of the aggressor and was at the scene of the attack stayed behind to help the victim.

'The young woman stood up for somebody,' Thrasher told an audience of about 65 people gathered at a forum at the UMass Campus Center Tuesday night to discuss feelings surrounding the attack and how the campus community can move forward.

'She was disgusted by her friend and stayed to help the victim. I know it's not much, but at least someone stood up,' Thrasher said.

The forum was prompted by an assault Feb. 28 outside the Southwest Residential Area shortly after midnight. Authorities say UMass student Tony Brennan, 24, of Winchester, jumped out of a car driven by a friend and began to beat a 20-year-old UMass student after uttering anti-homosexual remarks at his victim.

The victim was a 20-year-old UMass student. As a result of the attack, the victim suffered a fractured eye socket and a concussion. He was treated for the injuries at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

UMass student Christopher Cobb, who is a friend of Brennan's and was riding in the car that night along with three women, has since told another version of the assault. In Cobb's version the victim instigated the fight and received the worst of the encounter. Cobb said no anti-gay remarks were made.

Police dispute Cobb's account of the incident. Brennan was arrested the day of the attack and has since pleaded innocent in Eastern Hampshire District Court to charges of aggravated assault and battery, a civil rights violation, and assault and battery to intimidate someone based on race, creed or sexual orientation with bodily injury involved. He was released on $1,000 cash bail.

At the forum Tuesday night, students talked about the need for mandatory diversity training on campus. Students said a forum or class on tolerance for people's sexual orientation, as well as race and creed, needs to be a part of every student's education at UMass.

'I am really concerned by the arrogance in the administration and our community,' said Christopher Dunay, a UMass undergraduate. 'People here don't wear (their prejudice) on their sleeve, they keep it inside, and we have to address that. We can't just be arrogant and think these things don't happen here.'

As it is now, UMass does not have a class that specifically addresses diversity or lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender issues. However, diversity is the subject of a number of forums and discussions held on campus.

'I was shocked there was no course here that deals with LGBT issues or an intro to LGBT studies,' said Brett Genny Beemyn. 'It's a real loss that there is not more offered on the LGBT experience.'

Students said a message of tolerance needs to be delivered in an arena that will reach the masses, the people who wouldn't normally go to a panel discussion on gay issues.

'There needs to be a discussion if we are going to make this better. We need a way to reach out to people who wouldn't normally come to something like this,' said Elvis Mendez, president of the Student Government Association.

Mendez suggested that people at the forum draft a resolution at the end of the meeting to ask the administration for such a class. Students suggested making diversity training part of freshman, transfer and international student orientation. They also suggested forming a mandatory class for freshmen or sophomores on understanding and respecting sexual, racial and religious diversity.

Byron S. Bullock, assistant vice chancellor of student affairs, said the university is working on diversity programs that include student participation. For example, Bullock is developing a monthly meeting of student leaders to address campus issues.

'There is a lot the center can do and will do,' Bullock said. 'We need to look at ways to develop more student involvement and talk about these issues and create a program to address these issues.'

Students said that in general, UMass is a safe place for openly gay students. It has been years since UMass has experienced a homophobic assault, police and Beemyn said. Last summer, UMass was named among the top 20 most friendly campuses for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students in the country by Campus PrideNet, an online resource network for LGBT students.

Still, last week's attack has inspired feelings of anger and frustration among the student population.

'I find this disgusting and disturbing,' said a woman who identified herself as Jennie and as a member of the UMass Pride Alliance, an advocacy group for LGBT students and their allies. 'It's pathetic it takes this to realize that there is homophobia at UMass and we face this bias daily - I'm sorry, I'm really upset.'

Thrasher, the UMass detective, agreed with Jennie and said the UMass police work hard to make the university a safe place for all students.

'This has to be brought up. Nothing has happened like this in a long time and that's wonderful, but on the second side of the coin it doesn't feel good,' Thrasher said. 'It feels, I'm sure for many of you, like you've been kicked in the gut even though you weren't there, and I don't know how to make that better.'

Although the forum provided students with a place to vent their frustration and disgust with the assault, it is unclear whether the forum will produce any meaningful advancements, students said.

'There will be results if students push hard for them,' said UMass student Kaitlyn Soligan. 'Things like this forum can get old, and I don't know if the administration will support the students' initiatives.'