Washington State Police Investigate Hate Crimes

Police at Washington State University are investigating three assaults that some claim are hate crimes targeting gay students this past week, the Daily Evergreen reports. Investigators have not determined whether the attacks are related, but all three involve unprovoked attacks on members of the school's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. One of the victims was hospitalized and diagnosed with a collapsed lung.

In response, the school's Women's Transit service, which provides door-to-door transportation for women at night, has expanded its service to the GLBT community

The assaults occurred just a week after the community hosted National Coming Out Day, timing that many believe is not coincidental, while others have expressed discontent about how the university has handled the attacks. "There's a general feeling of a lack of support from the university administration and the university system in general," said one student. "On a personal level, I'm scared. There's been nothing coming out of the university, and that's not acceptable."