Homophobic Graffiti Surfaces in River Houses

Winthrop and Mather Houses have been the victims of homophobic graffiti five times in the past two weeks, and in strongly worded letters, House Masters have promised to do their best to find the culprits.

Vandals scrawled homophobic messages on Winthrop House message boards in two separate incidents over the past several days, according to Russell Deason, the House's tutor for bisexual, gay and lesbian students.

Michael A. Hill '02, whose Winthrop House message board was one of those vandalized, said this was the first time he had been the victim of such an incident. Hill is also co-chair of the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Supporters' Alliance (BGLTSA)

And in Mather House this Tuesday, resident tutor K. Kyriell Muhammad found homophobic graffiti posted on a message pad near his door. Two weeks earlier, a picture of the tutor dressed in a gown with the words "BGLTS Safe Zone" was removed from his door. Several days later, posters advertising the House's Queer Film Series--organized by Muhammad--were defaced.

House Masters said they were unaware of any link between the incidents.

Both Houses have promised to investigate the incidents and urged students who know about the acts to come forward.

Masters of both Houses sent letters yesterday to all House affiliates condemning the incidents and asking anyone with information about them to come forward.

Mather House Master Sandra A. Naddaff '75 said the House has not received any leads in their investigation of the incident. Deason said he could not comment on the status of the Winthrop investigation.

Calling the acts cowardly and ugly, Winthrop House Master Paul D. Hanson told The Crimson he felt that the acts stemmed from "serious moral depravation."

"Such sub-human behavior will not be tolerated," Hanson said. "This House will be restored to a safe place in which to live for every member of our community."

Hanson said the act stunned a House community that has not experienced a similar event during his time as master.

"When incidents like this occur, the natural response is, 'Winthrop students could not have stooped so low as to inflict such senseless, deep pain on fellow students,'" he said.

In the days since the incident, Hill said he has received an outpouring of sympathy from his Housemates.

"They've been tremendously supportive of me and have expressed the same zero tolerance the Masters and tutors have," Hill said.

He said he was bewildered that anyone in the House could have engaged in such an act.

"With all my interpersonal relations here, everyone has just seemed unbelievably nice," he said.

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 praised the Houses' response and said the administration has resources available to students who suffer from the incidents.

"A strong support network exists for anyone concerned about or affected by such harassment," added Lewis, who directed students to Harvard's "Community of Equals" brochure on resources dealing with sexual orientation.

Naddaff said the House committee will discuss possible responses to the incident at their meeting this week.

"The House council will be taking this up as an issue at their Sunday night meeting this week and inviting discussion from students about their concerns and possible ways of responding," Naddaff said. "There's been a lot of conversation and discussion among members of the House."

Naddaff said that while Mather faced an incident involving racist graffiti five years ago, she was not aware of a previous instance of homophobic graffiti in the House.