A suspect has been arrested and a Nanaimo student is recovering from injuries and trauma sustained in an alleged homophobic assault.
The incident happened at a house party early Sunday morning, March 27, following a basketball game at Vancouver Island University.
Spencer Frey suffered facial bruising and a possible fracture to his left cheek after he was punched multiple times by several assailants.
Frey, an interior design student at VIU, said he felt uneasy when he arrived at the party sometime before 1 a.m. The location was farther from the campus than he and his female friend would normally go and he didnsa国际传媒檛 know a large portion of the people there.
sa国际传媒淭he first thing that set off my alarms was when I was just talking to my friend sa国际传媒� and this kid taps on my shoulder and then he says, sa国际传媒榊ousa国际传媒檙e disgusting.sa国际传媒� I said, sa国际传媒楨xcuse me?sa国际传媒� and then he said, sa国际传媒榊ou smell. Yousa国际传媒檙e disgusting,sa国际传媒� and then he proceeds to call me the sa国际传媒楩sa国际传媒� slur,sa国际传媒� said Frey, who is gay. sa国际传媒淚 retaliated with, I think I said, sa国际传媒榊ousa国际传媒檙e short,sa国际传媒� and I walked away. Itsa国际传媒檚 just like something I totally would say when I get called those names.sa国际传媒�
Spencer said he shrugged off the encounter, but about 30 minutes later he was physically accosted.
sa国际传媒淚 was talking to one of my other friends and I feel a squeeze on my butt, a really long squeeze, and then I turn around and some kid is licking his lips,sa国际传媒� Frey said.
He and his friend decided it was time to go, but as they were getting ready to leave another person aggressively approached Frey.
sa国际传媒淗e said, sa国际传媒榊ousa国际传媒檝e been looking at me all night.sa国际传媒� I go, sa国际传媒楴obodysa国际传媒檚 been looking at you,sa国际传媒� and then I donsa国际传媒檛 remember anything because thatsa国际传媒檚 when I got punched,sa国际传媒� Frey said.
He was told afterward that he raised his wine bottle to try and defend himself, it was ripped out of his hand and then about four or five people piled on him and started punching him in the face. His friend started screaming and some party-goers tried to help while others allegedly tried to join in the assault.
sa国际传媒淪he was pushing me out of the house and, apparently, I was screaming bloody murder at these people, of course defending myself,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 remember what I said at all, but apparently I was outside and sa国际传媒� they start to attack me again.sa国际传媒�
His attackers allegedly yelled homophobic slurs.
sa国际传媒淭hen I was pushed in the car and we drove away,sa国际传媒� he said.
Frey is in the final weeks of his second year of studies at VIU. The university arranged for him to complete his studies online, which he is now doing from his parentssa国际传媒� home in Chandler, Ariz.
Irlanda Gonzalez-Price, VIU associate vice-president of student affairs, issued a statement about the incident Tuesday, March 29, saying the university is taking the matter seriously and is offering counselling support to students and staff who need it.
sa国际传媒淭his horrific incident goes against everything VIU stands for and I know many in our community are upset by what has happenedsa国际传媒a国际传媒� Gonzalez-Price said in the statement. sa国际传媒淰IU stands for equity and inclusion. I reiterate that any student or employee found to be involved in incidents of racism or discrimination will be subject to the full extent of our policies and procedures. I know there are many allies on this campus and I encourage you to reach out and check in with one another.sa国际传媒�
Reserve Const. Gary Osa国际传媒橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, confirmed an arrest has been made and police are continuing their investigation.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e treating it as a possible hate crime,sa国际传媒� Osa国际传媒橞rien said. sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e asking for witnesses, anybody with information. We do not condone violence, especially violence associated with any sexual orientation. Itsa国际传媒檚 not acceptable.sa国际传媒�
Anyone was at the party who witnessed the incident is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and quote file No. 2022-10317.
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