Despite being cleared by campus police, a student at Huron University College may be facing serious consequences after placing a pig's head on a Muslim student’s bed.
The Muslim student discovered the porcine head in his dorm at Hellmuth Hall residence on Monday, and immediately informed security. Because those who practice the Muslim faith abstain from eating pork, the prank quickly stirred concerns of Islamophobia.
After learning about the incident, campus police at Western University began an investigation and were able to determine the identity of the prankster, whose name has not been released. They also learned that he is good friends with the victim of the prank.
"We were able to meet and inverview both parties involved and the individual responsible explained that he had done it as a prank, and hadn't meant any ill will," said John Carson with Western's campus police. "He was extremely upset and remorseful that he had offended his friend in such a way."
Once the Muslim student learned it was his friend who had committed the act, he withdrew his complaint.
Pranks between the two students had been a regular occurrence throughout the semester, according to Carson.
"The student who put [the pig's head] there, didn't know his friend -- who I guess he had just met this year -- was a Muslim student, and that the act was highly offensive," he said. "It was very clear in this case that he had no concept that what he was doing could be interpreted as that offensive."
Campus police have since cleared the student of any wrongdoing, but he may not be out of the woods just yet.
The London Free Press has reported that the student will face "significant" disciplinary action for the prank, according to Huron University College principal Barry Craig.
Craig has not specified the punishment, but under the college's residence disciplinary code, penalties can range from fines to an eviction. And if school officials decide to deal with the incident through the school’s student code of conduct, the student could face expulsion.
Carson said he cautions students who may consider doing something similar in the future.
"There's a difference in being in good taste and being offensive," says Carson. "This is a very multi-cultural community at Western and in the City of London, and you've got to be mindful of other's people's beliefs and religions... and cultures."
