A university is supposed to be a place for learning, for growth, and for everyone to feel safe and like they are at their second home. But this was not the case for students who were being housed in an LGBTQ + residential community at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. 

On Friday, May 14th, a group of male students approached Fran’s House student residence and “harassed and intimidated” the residents while they were trying to enter the building. The Fran’s House is a gender neutral house which “serves as a safe place for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies,” reported CNN. That night, the residents of Fran’s House said that it’s become a house of fear and that they don’t feel safe anymore.            

The school has responded by banning the fraternity who was at the heart of this incident. This fraternity also has a history of hazing new recruits by having them wear shock collars and underage drinking, causing them to have been removed from on campus activity. Those who specifically cheered on the aggressors and laughed at their actions are being investigated by a third party firm. The campus security officers will also go through further training and professional development since there was a delay in action on their part.  

Students need to be able to feel safe at their own campus. Hopefully the school makes it a priority to make sure that the victims involved in this case are given the support they need and that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions.