WESTFIELD—According to a Westfield State University (WSU) representative, a female minority student was allegedly verbally and physically assaulted on campus Tuesday, including “racist comments” made toward the student.
According to a statement provided by WSU, a female minority student reported that on Tuesday, Nov. 7 around 4:30 p.m., she was allegedly assaulted by three males while walking between Bates Hall and Wilson Hall on the WSU campus.
The refurbished globe on the campus of Westfield State University (Photo by Peter Currier)
According to the statement, the three males had reportedly approached the student from behind and a shoulder of one of the males had allegedly made contact with the female student, which caused her backpack to fall to the ground. Then, it was reported that a second male had reportedly kicked the bag and a third male had “made a threatening racist comment to her.”
In the statement, WSU President Dr. Ramon S. Torrecilha addressed the alleged incident:
University President Ramon S. Torrecilha has condemned this assault as a cowardly, hateful deed on a campus that has re-doubled its commitment to diversity, empathy, tolerance, and inclusion. If a student or students are found responsible for this incident, they will be expelled from the University, which is consistent with the University’s zero tolerance policy regarding hate crimes.”
Westfield State University President Dr. Ramon Torrecilha (photo courtesy WSU)
WSU and Massachusetts State Police are both investigating the matter.
A description of the three suspects is as follows: All three are male, race or races unknown, one suspect was said to have dirty blonde hair and all three were wearing black hooded sweatshirts and blue jeans.
If there is any information that you have that may be of some help with the investigation, you are asked to contact the WSU Police at (413)572-5262.
