A University of Virginia Student's Frightening Night

A Jewish student at the University of Virginia experienced a harrowing ordeal involving antisemitic messages and a gun threat from his roommate, Robert Romer.

Incident Details

• October 21: Romer sent a threatening text about "freeing Palestine," which the Jewish student interpreted as a threat against him.
• October 31: Early in the morning, the student found Romer holding a gun in their room. He touched it to verify if it was real and asked if it was loaded, but Romer remained silent.
• Response: The student alerted other housemates, who passed the gun around. Some were frightened, and eventually, someone hid it.

Aftermath and Legal Consequences

• Reporting: The Jewish student reported the incident to the university and law enforcement the next day.
• Actions Taken: He moved out and arranged to study abroad for the spring semester, citing fear for his safety.
• Charges: Romer was arrested and charged with brandishing a weapon and hate crime assault. He was suspended but returned to school in January after completing a student-run judicial process.

Legal Proceedings and Controversies

• Defense Claims: Romer's defense attorney, Graven Craig, asserted that the allegations were false and that the messages were taken out of context from a group chat where everyone joked around. Romer's father also maintained his son's innocence.
• Dismissed Charges: Two of the criminal charges against Romer were dismissed in May after other housemates testified that the gun was unloaded and the Jewish student also briefly held it. The remaining charges, including hate crime assault, are scheduled to be presented before a grand jury in August.

University and Nonprofit Involvement

• Nonprofit Organizations: The case gained attention when the Jewish student's father contacted two nonprofit organizations that combat antisemitism. They criticized U. Va.'s handling of the complaint and what they called an "improper retaliatory countercomplaint."
• Justice Department Involvement: The Justice Department contacted U. Va. about the incident, referring to the letter from the three nonprofit groups. The university ended its five-month investigation and cleared the Jewish student of all allegations.
• University's Response: The Jewish student's father was relieved, but the housemate who filed the complaint against the Jewish student felt cheated, stating that the university wrapped up the investigation too quickly after the letter came.

Ongoing Concerns

• Nonprofit Frustration: StandWithUs, one of the nonprofit groups, expressed gratitude for the Justice Department's involvement but frustration that the university still won't disclose steps to ensure the Jewish student's safety. They believe the department's involvement should remind U. Va. of its moral and legal obligations.