A UW-Whitewater student was physically assaulted Sunday in what the university suspects to be a hate crime, marking the second homophobic assault at the school this fall.
A female student was approached by two men Sunday evening. The taller man pushed the woman into a fence and made a derogatory comment about her perceived sexual orientation, UW-Whitewater Chancellor Richard Telfer said in a statement.
A similar incident occurred on the campus in September. A female student was punched in the face by one of two unidentified men for wearing a ""Legalize Gay"" shirt. She was also called a ""faggot.""
In response to the incidents, the UW-Whitewater police will conduct an investigation and increase their presence on campus, according to Telfer.
The university is also working with the Walworth County Sheriff's Department to provide a sketch of the offenders. Both suspects are white. One is about 5'6"" tall and the other is over six feet tall.
""I encourage all students, faculty and staff to be proactive in putting an end to this type of hurtful and destructive behavior,"" Telfer said. ""UW-Whitewater is a place that values all people. This incident goes against everything that we stand for as a campus.""
