GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina University officially responded to an attack against two women on campus that some consider a hate crime.
Chancellor Steve Ballard issued a statement that called the anti-gay verbal and physical abuse, "unacceptable behavior." His remarks come more than a month after it happened. They got a positive reaction from the campus gay community.
Three weeks after E.C.U. students took a stand against hate crimes across the country, Chancellor Steve Ballard took one of his own regarding the attack on two women outside Tyler Hall in October. A group of students blasted them with sexist and homophobic slurs.
"This type of behavior is completely inappropriate and will not be tolerated. The campus community has every right to be bothered by this act and my administration shares in their frustration and disappointment,” Ballard said in his statement.
A leader in the student gay and lesbian community praised the move.
"For the chancellor of E.C.U. To actually say something and address the situation says a lot of the character of who he is and what kind of campus he wants," said Katy Ross, president of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Student Union at E.C.U.
Ballard says those involved have been identified and will be subject to university punishment. Criminal charges have been filed against Bryan Berg. Ballard's statement falls short of condemning it as a hate crime. Sexual orientation is not included in North Carolina's hate crime statute.
"It's kind of a sticky situation, especially for us and especially for him as the chancellor," Ross said.
Chancellor Ballard also stressed the creation of a special task force to address bias against homosexuals while also improving education and awareness.
"It's gonna be an easier transition from less hate to more love," Ross said.
It's a change this group thinks can only lead to brighter days. Ross did not criticize Ballard for waiting almost a month and a half after the incident to issue the statement. She said he probably had his reasons.
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