The Daily Tar Heel
URL: http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2011/04/police_determine_false_report_in_assault_case_will_not_report_it_as_a_hate_crime
Current Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 06:27:37 -0400
UNC officials: student wasn't hate-crime victim, may face charges
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The Department of Public Safety has determined that the alleged aggravated assault reported to campus police April 5 did not occur, officials said.
Quinn Matney, a freshman, told police that a man grabbed his wrist and burned him early in the morning April 4 on the Craige Residence Hall footbridge. Matney said Monday that the attack left him with third- and fourth-degree burns.
Because his report was found to be false, the University will not report it as a hate crime, officials said. Officials have declined to comment on the motive behind Matney’s false account.
Billy Kluttz, co-president of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Straight Alliance, declined to comment on the incident. He said the group will not comment until after its Wednesday meeting when it will have a better understanding of the facts.
Jeff DeLuca, the group’s other co-president, also declined to comment.
In an email, UNC spokesman Mike McFarland said charges could be pending for Matney.
“The only other thing I can share is that the student is still enrolled at the University and charges are likely against him based on what the chancellor reported in the email,” he said.
Terri Phoenix, director of the LGBTQ Center, confirmed that Matney could be facing charges. She said she will be having several meetings with students and administrators to discuss moving forward from the incident.
“The way this has played out should in no way deter anyone who experiences harassment from coming forward and coming to the police,” Phoenix said.
In the campuswide email, Thorp said it is important to realize that incidents of harassment do occur.
“When they do, we take them seriously,” he wrote. “We strive to foster a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment at Carolina.”
Though the report of the incident was false, Winston Crisp, vice chancellor for student affairs, said he is under the impression that Matney did go to Campus Health Services for treatment.
“I think it would be disingenuous to say there wasn’t some frustration,” he said. “We have a campus police force that I have confidence in. The challenge that we have is that we live in a world where people are often simulcasting.”
Crisp added that he has no reason to believe anyone other than Matney was acting dishonestly.
“There was no assault,” he said. “I think that’s all I can feel comfortable I can say.”
Crisp, who was planning to meet with GLBTSA on Thursday in reaction to the incident, said he is still willing to attend the group’s public forum.
“I will still be open to doing something if that group feels like it’s still warranted,” he said.
Thorp’s full email reads as follows:
April 12, 2011 5:53:00 PM EDT
Message from the Chancellor: Police Determine False Report in Aggravated Assault Case
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
The Department of Public Safety has determined that the alleged aggravated assault reported to campus last night did not occur. That report, filed with campus police on April 5, was false. The University will not report it as a hate crime.
It is important to recognize that incidents of harassment do occur. When they do, we take them seriously. We strive to foster a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment at Carolina.
We recognize that this has been a difficult time for campus. Members of the community who feel they need to discuss what has happened are encouraged to contact the Dean of Students Office at 919-966-4042; Counseling and Wellness Services at 919-966-3658 or 919-966-2281 after hours; LGBTQ Center at 919-843-5376; Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at 919-962-6962; or Human Resources’ Employee Assistance Program at 919-929-2362
Sincerely,
Holden Thorp
Assistant University editors Andy Thomason and Jeanna Smialek contributed reporting.
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31 comments
Considering the reaction from campus on this issue, this kid better face some charges
My only wish right now is that the university would share more information with us about this incident…
wow….can’t wait for the kvetches on friday.
What is going on at this school…?
Waiting for the liberal do-gooders to arrive… they’re already blowing up Facebook. Is anyone surprised by this? The original article was beyond fishy. Let’s hope this kid gets the help he needs. Events like this only undermine real hate crimes. Good grief.
From the original article:
““Despite the horridity of the event, it has let me see how much my community loves me,” he said.”
@Don: “we’ll just hear that the more important thing is to remember that LGBTQRSTUV people “
Way to be offensive. I’m not saying that your wrong (no one should be called a “bigot” just for rationally questioning a story), but this is a pretty ignorant comment. It’s ignorant comments like these that should be getting the attention, not a kid who sounds like he’s a little messed up right now.
“There’s a sucker born every minute.” – P.T. Barnum
I was one of the people called a bigot and homophobe for questioning the validity of the story. Also, most of the comments that also questioned it, on the original story, were deleted by DTH.
Honestly, I feel vindicated.
Liberal “do-gooder” here. I refrained from commenting on or talking about this story precisely because it did sound over-the-top and unlikely. Therefore, since I used reasonable judgment I will not be apologizing to you and your sad attempt to attack liberals. (Since when is liberal a bad word?).
So, since I still stand high upon the moral high ground, I will point out to you that your hyperbolic string of capital letters is offensive. People of differing sexual orientations still experience malice and discrimination and deserve protection. (Simply look around you at legislation like DOMA if you don’t believe me). One kid lied—that does not justify your bigotry.
I don’t understand this guy’s motive for this at all. Maybe he wanted to raise awareness of the adversity he faces from being gay or something but now he looks like a moron. And what the hell is a fourth degree burn DTH???
UNCGIRL:“It’s ignorant comments like these that should be getting the attention, not a kid who sounds like he’s a little messed up right now.”
and sooo the blame deflection begins. didn’t take long. My alma mater do-gooders never fail to live up to expectations. Too bad that DTH stopped comments on the original story or else we could have been treated to some gems about how this “hate crime” is Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck’s fault.
I don’t think anyone is denying that hate crimes are an evil part of society.
Most people just feel vindicated because this kids story was completely over the top from the start (4th degree burns? come on his hand would have been almost detached if he had a 4th degree burn).
This is what happens when people stop being skeptical and jump to conclusions before due process has been played out.
Everyone on this campus is so addicted to raising the banner of a righteous cause that they let themselves be fooled.
Anyone exercising a discerning eye could see that this entire incident was based off of one persons wishy washy account.
What a pie in the face.
@Don, Go ahead and gloat over the possibility of this falsification, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the exception to the rule. However, I eagerly await your rebuttal to a legitimate crime against the “LGBTQRSTUV” community. I owe you a beer if you manage to craft a response without a hint of a preconceived notion about the victim. Heaven forbid that someone who didn’t “flaunt their sexuality” gets assaulted.
Realitycheck:“Go ahead and gloat over the possibility of this falsification, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the exception to the rule”
ummmm, “possibility”? so now you are saying that the police are lying? once again, thanks homie for proving my first point. preciate it. man libs never disappoint.
To be able to self-inflict such severe injury to oneself (which is what this appears to be), most likely requires an incredibly distressed psychological state. We should keep this in mind regardless of what we may personally believe about hate crimes or homosexuality.
sigh Well, I feel used and exploited. I have nothing really to apologize for in the context of this “debate” because either way I still hope the kid gets better soon, both physically and mentally. However, I will say that this school and town deserve a formal and detailed apology from this young man as his selfish actions, regardless of his mental state, will detract from the real needs of the LGBTQ community.
The offense of filing a false police report is a Class 2 misdemeanor. “No less than 30 days,
nor more than 6 months’ imprisonment.”
Worth it?
hurry up and comment on this story before the DTH deletes your comment or shuts down the comment thread!!
Bahhhhhh
The sad thing about this incident is that it will take away from the thousands of hate crimes that occur every single day. Remember what happened to the little boy who cried wolf? Let’s hope that does not happen here.
@Don, Glad I didn’t disappoint, but there were a few points you glossed over. I’ll boil it down to this: The case isn’t over, he may have lied, but it doesn’t detract from proven hate crimes rulings in the past. Don’t disappoint me now; at least let me know you accept that people have been attacked with a sexuality-centric motive.
Outside Observer: “We should keep this in mind regardless of what we may personally believe about hate crimes or homosexuality.”
i don’t have a grudge, vendetta, hatred, etc. of homosexuals. i do, however, have a BIG problem with ANYONE who uses their perceived “oppressed” status to attempt to inflict their own brand of “woe is me” on society. and the righteous indignation that spews out of the mouths and keyboards of libs when these types of “incidents” happen is sickening.
as for hate crimes—they are a joke!
http://abcnews.go.com/US/acid-attack-victim-bethany-storro-tells-police-faked/story?id=11658631
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