NORTH CAROLINA: Student Burned In Hate Crime Attack At UNC

[Ian David]

NORTH CAROLINA: Student Burned In Hate Crime Attack At UNC

A University of North Carolina freshman was attacked last week by a man he says severely burned his wrist with an unknown object.

As the freshman took a walk on South Campus at about 3 a.m. on April 4, he said he ran into an acquaintance on the Craige Residence Hall footbridge. As the two spoke, a man sitting at a nearby picnic table stood up and grabbed him by the wrist, he said. “Here’s a taste of hell you f—-ing fag,” Matney remembered the man saying. The man branded Matney, who is gay, on the left wrist with an unidentified object, causing third- and fourth-degree burns that damaged three nerves and a tendon, leaving the freshman with no feeling in his thumb and limited mobility in his index finger, he said.

The attacked student says he escaped after punching his assailant. UNC plans to report the attack as a hate crime to the federal government.

More:
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2011/04/north-carolina-student-burned-in-hate.html

[Deep13]

1. We are a nation of sadistic assholes. nt

[William769]

2. Just one of the reasons I carry a concealed weapon (legally).

If I'm going down, I'm taking someone with me.

K&R.

[JackBeck]

3. When I read the original story, my instincts told me to withhold comment.

Something didn't sit right with me. I wish I had been wrong:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/04/12/1124145/unc-investigating-assault-on-student.html

[FreeState]

4. Yeah made up story, hurt people that are real victims n/t

[JackBeck]

5. Embellished or falsified reports always do more harm to those who are survivors of violence. n/t

[The Philosopher]

6. Is there

anything else to report that shows he made a false report? What that article presents, the victim could simply be afraid to point out his attacker fearing retribution. The article only says the university claims it was a false report and that the police couldn't get a description of the attacker or who the victim was speaking with at the time of the attack.

[JackBeck]

7. Since neither of us were there, let's wait and see how this story unfolds.

We can speculate all day long as to who did what, when, and why. And then question what took them so long to do so.

But every time we promote a story that turns out to be false because of a desire to be reactionary, it takes power away from the many compelling personal narratives of those who are survivors of actual anti-gay violence, or violence because they were perceived to be gay.

[The Philosopher]

8. That's not really acceptable, is it?

To first say that you had a feeling he was a liar and this news article gave you proof, then when asked for more evidence you say, "Neither you or I was there, so let's not make statements either way"? You already have done that. And it's not cool to hide behind "this takes away from real victims of violence," because there are those who are victims who are called outright liars from the get go and are never given their justice.

[JackBeck]

9. Excuse me, but where did I say I had a feeling he was a liar?

If you want me to clarify something I wrote could you please ask for some clarification before jumping to an unfounded conclusion?

All I said was that the original story didn't sit right with me. I never accused anyone of being a liar.

If you want to know why it left me a bit curious, just ask, but in the meantime please refrain from jumping to conclusions.

[FreeState]

10. Update: UNC frosh filed a false police report regarding 'branding' hate crime

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/19048/update-unc-frosh-filed-a-false-police-report-regarding-branding-hate-crime

An alleged hate crime against a gay student on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus last week was false, officials said Tuesday.
Chancellor Holden Thorp said a student who told authorities he was branded with a searing hot object because of his sexual orientation filed a false police report and that it will not be reported as a hate crime.

Randy Young, a spokesman for UNC's public safety department, said charges of filing a false police report are likely against Matney.

[The Philosopher]

12. I wonder

if they believe it didn't happen because the victim walked up to the police and said, "I was allegedly assaulted."

Anyway, why is the story being reported with the same info? That the university is saying the report was false, but no reasoning to how they came to that conclusion is offered. If I was the university and just trying to cover my ass, I would offer something up instead of just throwing out, "The report was false." And, "He couldn't name anyone," doesn't cut it.

If it is a false report, hopefully the alleged victim comes clean or video evidence is presented.

[The Philosopher]

11. I don't think

there's much jumping when you state you felt the story wasn't right, "wish I was wrong" about it, and then spend time talking about false reports. That doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the belief that the alleged victim was really assaulted. Could I be wrong? Sure and I'm sorry if I am. But that doesn't change what I said, doesn't make it any less true. You can't act one way and then when asked for more information--or clarity--and then say, "Let's wait for more information."

[MNBrewer]

13. Something seemed a little "off" to me, too.

How did the perp heat the item to branding temperature, for example. I hope that the poor guy who was burned gets ALL the treatment he needs.

[DeadEyeDyck]

14. what are 4th degree burns

I learned in school that 3rd degree was char flesh. So what is 4th degree?

[dsc]

15. I think tendon and bone