B.C. university student injured in alleged homophobic assault at off-campus party

UPDATE, March 30, 2022: Nanaimo RCMPsay they have arrested a 19-year-old man for the assault after he turned himself in to police late Tuesday.

A student at Vancouver Island University was injured Saturday evening in what he says was an unprovoked homophobic assault at an off-campus party in Nanaimo, B.C.

Spencer Frey, 19, who openly identifies as gay, told CBC News that he and a friend had attended a house party with other studentswhere alcohol was being consumed, when several attendees he didn't recognize verbally and sexually assaulted him throughoutthe evening.

Frey said the trouble began when oneyoung man called him "disgusting"and uttered a homophobic slur.

Sometime later, anotherman approached and groped his rear-end, "which made me so uncomfortable," said Frey, adding the person licked his lips suggestively at him before walking away.

"I was in shock," said Frey. "I couldn't even say anything. Usually, I'm the type of person who would go crazy."

The assaults escalated, Frey said, when a third young man approached him, accusing him of staring and then punched Frey in the face when he denied the accusations.

Frey said he was knocked to the ground and he sustained more blows to the face before he and his friend managed to leave the house without his shoes.

As a result of the assaults, Frey said he was left with a swollen face, black eye, injuries to his mouthand contusions on his neck where, he says, someone tried to strangle him with his collar.

Nanaimo RCMP investigating

Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O'Brien confirms police are investigating the incident but could not give further details.

Ella McNeill, Frey's friend at the party, said she couldn't believe what she witnessed as she helped him leave the house while a handful of partygoers were still trying to attack him.

"I'm still shaking as I talk about it," said McNeill.

She said the pair returnedto Vancouver Island Universitywhere they liveand did not contact police until the morning, because they were so stunned and frightened.

Frey's mother, Erin Frey, told CBC she's "extremely angry" that her son was attacked, seemingly on the basis of his sexual orientation, and that she flew to Nanaimo from Vancouver early the next day, where the three went to the hospital.

"This is Canada," shesaid in frustration. "We're supposed to be a country that's inclusive and accepting of all different types of [...] sexual orientations."

She said they spoke to police at the hospitalwho later told them that at least one suspect iswell known to them, though police would not confirm this detail with CBC.

VIUoffering support

A statement from VIU'sassociate vice-president of student affairs,Irlanda Gonzalez Price, says the school is taking the incident very seriously and is working with the RCMPto investigate the "hate crime."

"As of Sunday morning, VIU has been in contact with the student and family and are offering ongoing support," the statement reads, adding that it's working with campus partners to "enhance training and awareness activities that help build allyship."

McNeill said Frey has received a tremendous amount of support online and from friendsafter pictures of his injuries were posted publicly onInstagram.

Frey saidhe's been the victim of otherverbal assaults both on and off campus since he moved to Nanaimo last September.

He said he's now packedmost of his possessions from his dorm roomand does not plan to attend VIU next year.