In regards to this weekend’s unfortunate event…

As many of you have heard, an ISU student was reportedly beaten by a group of men this past weekend. Due to the nature of the event, many are calling it an anti-gay hate crime, with official word still under investigation.

On behalf of Illinois State University’s Pride organization, we want you to know that ISU is still a safe campus and you should be proud to live in a place that is accepting of the LGBT community. At times like this, it may not seem like you have much support here on campus, but we can assure you that the majority of Illinois State University students accept you for who you are. If you ever feel uncomfortable or vulnerable, do not hesitate to contact us. We want everyone to feel safe no matter what your sexual orientation or gender expression is.

Our thoughts go out to the student’s family and friends. We hope for a quick and safe recovery.

Always remember to be proud, be bold and be yourself. Don’t let anyone dictate who you are.