US student expelled, faces hate crime charge for harassing black roommate

What kind of hatred would make this girl treat her roomie so badly? Racism? Brianna Rae Brochu has been expelled and faces a charge of hate crime after she admitted to spitting saliva on her black roommate's book bag and toothbrush at the University of Hartford, US.

University President Greg Woodward, in a press statement, said Brochu’s conduct was “reprehensible’’ and she “is no longer a student at the University of Hartford. She will not be returning to the institution.”

Woodward said, in meeting with the victim on Tuesday, he “reiterated my personal commitment to ensuring she has all available personal and academic resources the University can provide.”

 UHart “took action immediately” once allegations were brought to the university’s attention.

Appearing before Hartford Community Court Judge Tammy Gaethers Wednesday morning, Brochu was ordered to stay off the University of Hartford campus and not contact her former roommate while her case continues through the court system. West Hartford police requested the charge of intimidation based on bigotry or bias be added to Brochu’s breach of peace and criminal mischief case, police said Wednesday.

Brochu did not comment during a brief court appearance in Hartford Community Court on Wednesday morning. Her case, under the request of assistant state’s attorney Carl Ajello, was transferred to Hartford Superior Court with a court date of Nov. 15.

Police also said they are in the process of “reviewing the entire case to ensure the proper procedures were followed.”

Brochu, 18, was arrested on Saturday after admitting to police that she licked her roommate’s dining utensils and smeared bodily fluid on the woman’s backpack.

The victim told West Hartford Police that since the beginning of the school year “she has felt ostracized by Brochu” and that Brochu generally ignored her and that she asked to change rooms.

On Oct. 17, the victim started moving her belongings into her new room and was approached by one of her neighbors, who said she saw some “very concerning posts” on Brochu’s Instagram account, police said. The posts appeared to show Brochu “bragging about how she tampered with [the victim’s] personal items,” police said.

One Instagram post was captioned: "Finally did it yo girl got rid of her roommate!! After 1 ½ month of spitting in her coconut oil, putting moldy clam dip in her lotions... putting her toothbrush places where the sun doesn't shine, and so much more I can finally say goodbye Jamaican Barbie."

Brochu told police she “began to lash out due to a ‘hostile environment’ caused by [the victim’s] rude behavior, not compromising, and posting Snapchat videos of me sleeping and making fun of me snoring.” She also told police she requested a room change on Oct. 11, but was unsuccessful.

From Hartford Courant