Calif. college students charged in bullying of roommate
![AP]({"default":"http://newsbcpcol.stb.s-msn.com/amnews/i/c8/982d6aebf1ce5941b27229f7c36c83/_h17_w0_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"}){kind=small}
By Associated Press
Four students at San Jose State University have been charged with hate crimes for allegedly taunting a black roommate with racial slurs.
A fourth student has been suspended in connection with an incident at San Jose State University involving alleged hate crimes against a black student.
University President Mohammed Qayoumi announced the suspension Friday evening but did not name the suspended student.
"I applaud the campus for its ongoing efforts to begin the healing process that is necessary," SJSU Chancellor Timothy White said in a statement Friday. "President Qayoumi has already reached out to African-American leaders in the Bay Area for their counsel and assistance.
Criminal arrest warrants have been issued for three white students — Logan Beaschler and Collin Warren, both 18, and 19-year-old Joseph Bomgardner — who face misdemeanor hate crime and battery charges after being accused of harassing their black roommate after they moved into a four-bedroom dormitory suite in August.
According to a police report, they outfitted their dormitory suite with a Confederate flag, barricaded the victim in his room, and placed a U-shaped bicycle lock around his neck and claimed they lost the key.
The victim hasn't been named at his parents' request.
The San Jose Mercury News reported that one of the suspects, Beaschler, turned himself in Thursday and that the others were expected to surrender this week.
Qayoumi also announced that after meeting Friday morning with the Rev. Jethroe Moore, president of the San Jose/Silicon Valley Chapter of the NAACP, he is taking a number of steps in response to the allegations, including: hosting a campus forum in December to discuss racial intolerance at SJSU; offering a lecture series next spring on diversity and tolerance; and a review of the university's practices related to students' well-being.
"Our goal is including race-based misconduct in existing zero-tolerance student conduct policies," Qayoumi said, adding that he had asked for a report on the policies by Dec. 15 and would share the results publicly.
Qayoumi and Moore will hold a press conference on the campus at noon Monday to discuss the pending criminal charges.
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