Police Investigate Vandalism Of Forty Books On Gay And Lesbian Issues At Harvard Library As Hate Crime

Harvard police say that they are investigating an act of vandalism to an estimated forty books about gay and lesbian issues, including same sex marriage, at a university library as a hate crime, the Harvard Crimson reports. Security staff at Lamont Library said in a report filed with campus police Friday that it appeared as though someone poured urine on the books November 24th. An empty bottle was found nearby. "Harvard College will not tolerate acts of vandalism, especially those that appear to be motivated by hate or bias," Harvard College Dean Evelynn M. Hammonds wrote in an e-mail to The Crimson. "[As] a community, we will continue to affirm our shared values of dignity and respect for everyone in our community." Marco Chan, the co-chair of the Harvard College Queer Students and Allies, said that the incident was “extremely frustrating” and “disconcerting” adding that "Everyone in our community should know that they play an important role in adjusting homophobia,"