DAVIS, CA—
The campus is reeling at the University of California at Davis following a graffiti attack on a gay student center. Davis is known for embracing alternative lifestyles, but this has shattered the sense of security previously enjoyed by gay students like Michelle Kaufman "It's kind of like a kick in the face to all the people who think homophobia doesn't exist, racism and discrimination of all sorts."It was just after noon Saturday when campus police were called to the Lesbian, Gay, Transgenger and Bisexual Resource Center. There they found the entrance and the doorway littered with anit-gay slogans. Sgt. Barry Swartwood tells FOX 40's John Lobertini, "Due to the nature of where it is and what was written. It fits the catagory of a hate crime."
Normally an act like this would be painted over and cleaned up within hours. But the LGBT center wants the public to see what an attack like this looks like. Senior Amy Rothman took pictures with her cell phone, "In a way the graffiti is really bad, but at the same time it lets people know it's still happening."
There's nothing specific or threatening about the anti-gay graffiti, but it will serve as the center piece for a community meeting planned for the campus on Monday night at 5:30 p.m. "Stuff like this scares me. Well, I felt safe on campus and generally I'm fine with everyone on campus, (but) I guess not" says 21 year old Marc Perkel.
The University of California system has seen it share of tension in recent weeks. Protests erupted at UC San Diego on thursday after a fraternity held a barbque mocking black history month; and a noose was found in a school library.
Protests have also taken place at UCLA, UC Berkeley and UC Irvine. On February 19th a swastika was carved in the dorm room door of a Jewish student at UC Davis. "It seems to be spreading throughout the university and I'm afraid of what's going to happen next week" says Dan Simmons, a member of the statewide academic senate. Simmons says everything from Gay Marriage to Affirmative Action cold be dirving this hostility, "Our whole country is going through a period of economic turmoil, we're going through a period of religous and political turmoil, and I think people are afraid at some level."
But the hostility could get worse before it gets better. March 4th has been declared a nationwide day of action; and college campuses across the country are bracing themselves for more unrest.
