Moorhead Student: Assault Did Happen, Anti-Gay Slurs Did Not

Paul Marquardt told police and reporters this weekend that he was attacked by a group of men who yelled homophobic slurs as he left the Minnesota State University-Moorhead library Thursday night.

Moorhead Police have determined that while Marquardt maintains he was attacked, the incident appears to have nothing to do with his sexual orientation, according to In-Forum News:

"Marquardt told investigators that he was not confronted, nor did he hear any anti-gay comments, [Deputy Police Chief Bob] Larson said. Larson said Marquardt maintains he was pushed down and injured by persons unknown. 'He told us that the story had gotten away from him,' Larson said."

“To claim something is a bias-motivated crime when it’s not is extremely serious. It’s unfortunate it had to happen in this case,” said James Sink spokester for the Ten Percent Society of MSUM and NDSU, a group that had planned to march to highlight intolerance as well as a lack of adequate campus security.

“The thing that we’re most concerned about is preserving the legitimacy of the organization and making people, and students of course, feel that it’s appropriate to go to the police if you feel you’ve been a victim of a crime,” Sink told in Forum News.

The West Central Tribune says that Ten Percent Society has canceled the march Thursday night in light of recent news.

Becky of the blog High Tech Redneck Woman worked in an office near campus. She said Tuesday evening that it's disappointing if this turns out to be false. "Now, I have met this guy, but don’t really know him... If he did give a false report, that’s just sad … and wrong. It should be interesting the next time he comes in to work."

Joe Mathern, a gay man from the area and blogger who has followed the story closely said, "Right now I'd have to say it is too soon to say how this will impact MSUM. Hopefully it still makes people more aware of safety issues on campus. My personal hope is that how everything played out won't create a backlash. I don't believe Paul had a malicious or deceitful intent."

Photo by Bruce Crummy / The Forum