A University of Virginia Student's Frightening Night

A Jewish student at the University of Virginia had a scary night. His roommate, Robert Romer, had been sending antisemitic messages in their group chat. On October 21, Romer sent a threatening text about \""freeing Palestine. \"" The Jewish student felt this was a threat against him. Two days later, Romer tried to enter his room. Early on October 31, the Jewish student found Romer holding a gun in his room. He touched it to check if it was real and asked if it was loaded, but Romer wouldn't answer. The student alerted other housemates, and they started passing the gun around. Some were scared, and someone eventually hid it. The Jewish student reported the incident to the university and law enforcement the next day. He moved out and arranged to study abroad for the spring semester, saying he was afraid to stay at U. Va. 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 university judicial process. Romer's defense attorney, Graven Craig, said the allegations are false. He claimed the Jewish student took messages out of context from a group chat where everyone joked around. Romer's father also said his son is innocent. 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. 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. \"" A third housemate had reported the Jewish student for harassment, which the student denies. The letter from the organizations urged the university to follow their demands, including shutting down investigations into the Jewish student. 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. The Jewish student's father was relieved, but the housemate who filed the complaint against the Jewish student felt cheated. He said the university wrapped up the investigation too quickly after the letter came. StandWithUs, one of the nonprofit groups, said it was grateful for the Justice Department's involvement but frustrated 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.