By Tom Fleischmann
GRAND RAPIDS – Only a few weeks before graduating from Hope College with a dual degree in Sociology and History, student Jason Burns was assaulted while leaving his campus library.
After a roommate was allowed to transfer out of the room he shared with Burns several years ago because of his sexuality, Burns became active educating about homophobia across campus. The students who attacked him recognized him from one of over forty classes that he had spoken to about his experiences.
Burns speaks positively about Hope College and the experience of working in these courses, saying that "the reactions for the most part have been completely positive."
However, the students who attacked Jason, striking him several times and yelling homophobic epithets before he was able to break away, show that not everyone was willing to hear his message.
The response following the attack has also been a mixture of positive and negative. Burns was featured at a student-run rally soon after the attack. "The rally was planned way before the assault happened, and had to do with a beloved professor on campus being denied tenure because of his sexual orientation," he explained. After the attack, Burns was asked to speak at the rally and the focus was shifted to the homophobic nature of the campus.
Many students at Hope have sent supportive emails to Burns, and he describes the faculty as being "very supportive." He said, "It is important to note that the response from the school is what it should have been, but the school needs to be more proactive in stopping future occurrences of homophobia."
Students have also increased the pressure on the administration to recognize the existence of two LGBT organizations, which it has consistently refused to do.
The positive social response from classmates and faculty has been offset by the less than ideal response from other officials. The Holland Police Department initially asked Burns to take a lie detector test to ensure that he wasn't making the event up-a request which seems to place more blame and suspicion on the victim than the attackers.
While the Holland Police are still investigating, Burns said, "At this time it looks as though they are going to get away with the assault."
Representatives from Hope College declined to comment on the assault.
