Although smaller anonymous hate crimes may be more common, it could be the overt targeting of a specific UW-Madison student that has forced recent allegations of hate crimes in Ogg Hall into the limelight.
'It's not unusual for students to see words scrawled on either posters or things scrawled on students' door or on signs on their door[s],' said Larry Davis, assistant director of University Housing. '[But] it's been a few years since we've had a specific incident where students were blatant and directed it at a specific student. Many times when students do this kind of behavior, they do it in a way that is very anonymous.'
Anonymously committed acts are not uncommon, with two or three instances occurring in Ogg last October and November, according to Davis. These acts ranged from a LGBT poster being repeatedly ripped off a door to words like 'fag' being scribbled on students' doors.
UW-Madison LGBT Liaison Colette Montoya said many of these incidents are committed anonymously because University Housing's position on the topic is obvious.
'We make it clear to them right from the beginning of the year, that we don't have any tolerance for that kind of behavior in housing,' she said. 'I think they're aware.'
Two UW-Madison freshmen and two out-of town friends were charged with criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct in connection with an alleged hate crime committed Dec. 21.
Michael Riha, a former Ogg resident and Ben Chamberlain, a resident of Sellery are accused of spitting on the door of an Ogg LGBT liaison and ripping pictures from an LGBT informational bulletin board, according to the criminal complaint. Chamberlain allegedly wrote: 'I hate fucking faggots. Die.' on the liaison's whiteboard.
University Housing representatives met with Ogg staff once already to discuss the issue and another meeting is planned for later this week.
Also in the coming weeks, Ogg will be hosting a new series of diversity programs, many of which will have emphasis on sexual orientation or sexual identity issues.
In addition, a house meeting, planned for the near future, will debrief Ogg students about the incident. Although specifics have not been decided upon, Davis said the intent of the meeting would be to inform students about what happened, conveying the victim's feelings about the incident and reiterating the importance of being respectful.
Davis said this meeting would be a delicate undertaking.
'I don't want students to walk out of there feeling like they just got their butts chewed out,' he said. 'I want it to be more of a 'This is what we expect,' and I hope that everyone recognizes that we're all unique individuals and need unique things.'
