By SHAWN P.O'LEARY
Editor-in-Chief
 

The assault occurred nearly thirty minutes after two local boys were apprehended for burning an item which was part of the Coming Out Weekend display. Local police were called to the campus and the boys were returned to the custody of one of the mothers, according to Lt. David Chamberlain of the Lewiston Police Department.

The two boys are juveniles and their identities could not be released.

Security bulletins posted about campus hinted at a possible link between both acts, based largely upon the description of the assailant given by the Bates student who was struck in the face. However, the investigation performed by the local police department casts doubt on that assumption.

"At this point it doesn't appear that the two events are linked," said Chamberlain. Chamberlain cited police records which show that the boys were returned to the custody of their mother only a few minutes before the assault took place on the campus. While it is not impossible for one of the boys to have returned to campus, Chamberlain indicated that it was unlikely.

The victim described the male assailant as wearing jeans, a sweatshirt and a baseball cap. She also indicated that she did not get a good look at his face. Chamberlain said that no estimate of the assailant's age was given.

According to Chamberlain, the two boys snuck out of their home and ventured onto campus. The boys "were involved in the parade and even helped to put up a banner," he said.

Chamberlain said that they walked onto the library terrace and saw a paper display and set it on fire. "They just flicked their Bic," he said, implying that it may have been done without malicious intent. Chamberlain said that both boys were up-front and honest with the investigating officer.

On Thursday a detective with the Maine Attorney General's office spoke to residential life staff and student organization leaders regarding hate crimes and bias incidents. The detective was invited to speak to Bates students by both the Dean of Students Office and Security and Campus Safety.

Peter Taylor, assistant dean of students, said that following the reported assault of a Bates student and the death of the University of Wyoming student, the college "wanted to address these issues through an educational forum."

The detective, Margie Berkovich, described a hate crime as force, threat of force or destruction of property against a member of a protected group. These acts, Berkovich said, are motivated by a person's race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, ancestry, etc.

In addition, the law covers a person who is attacked if they are believed to be a member of a protected group and are therefore the subject of a hate crime. One such example is if a student were assaulted as the result of being believed to be a homosexual.

Berkovich challenged the students in attendance to intervene when hate crimes take place, whether they be a symbol or offensive language. "When you take control over your mouth and what other people say you empower those around you," she said.

When an incident which is believed to be a hate crime happens at Bates, and security is notified, Sherri Brooks serves as the reporting officer to the Attorney General's office. In last Friday's case both Bates security and the Lewiston Police Department investigated the incidents and reported them to the attorney general's office for final determination.

Brooks outlined security's protocol for handling such a situation. "First we put out a security alert and print the incident in the biweekly crime report. We also do everything we can to make the campus aware," she added.

Brooks urged that students report a hate crime as quickly as possible to the security office. "In order for us to catch these perpetrators we have to have students report them as they happen," she said.

The investigation of the assault of a Bates student has led Lewiston police to question whether or not the action was indeed a hate crime. "We are not sure if the assault will be treated as a hate crime or not," said Chamberlain. He did note, however, that final determination rests with the attorney general's office.

Chamberlain's concern is based upon the victim's statement in which she said that while the assailant used expletives during the interaction, there was no reference which referred to her in a manner consistent with a hate crime. "The guy made no other comment before or after the attack," said Chamberlain.

Berkovich acknowledged that an investigation into the assault is pending and that she received reports from both Bates security and the local police. She could not confirm or deny whether or not the matter would be pursued as a hate crime.

"The local police do their investigation and send in their reports," Berkovich said. "They know what they are doing. It's the same as any other investigation," she continued.

Once the police report, the attorney general's office, as well as the head of the civil rights division, reviews the report before making a final determination "We might call for more information or realize that we've got everything," Berkovich explained.