LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University police are investigating an alleged hate crime that occurred in the school’s main library Monday evening.
MSU Vice President and Spokesperson Emily Guerrant said two MSU students were followed into the library by seven non-MSU students who appeared to be of high school age, Lansing State Journal reports. The suspects continued to follow the two MSU students to the third-floor study area. A video posted to an anonymous messaging board shows a physical altercation ensued.
The case has been classified as a hate crime because of alleged comments made by the suspects about the students’ sexual orientations, Guerrant said. MSU police say they will be submitting a request for charges to the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office once the investigation is complete.
MSU’s Gender and Sexuality Campus Center is offering online and in-person support for students following the incident.
“It is important to recognize that crimes are never the fault of a victim,” the school wrote in a statement. “Anyone who believes they have been discriminated against or harassed is encouraged to report the incident(s) to the MSU Office of Institutional Equity.”
Doug Monette, MSU’s interim vice president and chief safety officer, and Vennie Gore, the senior vice president for the school’s student life and engagement department, addressed students and faculty in a separate statement on Tuesday, according to NBC News. The statement notes that the incident occurred during the school’s LBGTQ Pride Month and that it was also based on the students’ “racial identities” in addition to their sexualities.
MSU’s website says its libraries are open to the public “in accordance with the land grant mission of the university.” However, from 10 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, only students, staff, and faculty can access the facilities using their campus IDs.
If anyone has information related to the incident, contact MSU Police and Public Safety at 517-355-2221.