SandyMaloneWest Hartford, CT – A former University of Hartford student has been arrested for bullying her roommate, and trying to make her sick with her own bodily fluids.
Brianna Rae Brochu (pictured on right,) 18, admitted to police that she licked her roommate Chennel “Jazzy” Rowe’s (left) eating utensils, and smeared bodily fluids from a used tampon on her backpack, West Hartford Police said Wednesday, according to the Hartford Courant.
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.
Freshmen Brochu and Rowe didn’t hit it off when they were randomly matched as roommates by the University of Hartford in August.
Rowe said she felt ignored and unwanted by her new roommate.
“I was like a ghost in my own room,” Rowe said, according to KTVI.
Both girls applied for a room change. Brochu’s request was declined, and Rowe’s was granted.
Rowe told KTVI that on Oct. 17, she was moving out of the room when she ran into her roommate.
Brochu asked if she was moving out, and Rowe confirmed.
Shortly thereafter, a resident advisor approached Rowe and showed her a social media post that concerned her, Rowe said.
Brochu had posted the following:
“After one and a half months of spitting in her coconut oil, putting moldy clam dip in her lotions, rubbing used tampons on her backpack, putting her toothbrush places where the sun doesn’t shine and so much more, I can finally say goodbye to ‘Jamaican Barbie.’”
Rowe said the post was followed by pictures of things Brochu had allegedly done to try and make her sick over the past few months.
Brochu posted to social media pictures of the moldy clam dip and the fouled backpack, and a video of herself spitting in her roommate’s jar of coconut oil.
On Oct. 18, Rowe contacted the police, and told them what her roommate had been doing and posting.
Brochu turned herself in to the West Hartford Police on Oct. 28, and was initially charged with third-degree criminal mischief, and second-degree breach of peace, police said.
Hartford Community Court Judge Tammy Gaethers ordered Brochu to stay off of the University of Hartford campus and to not contact her former roommate, during Brochu’s appearance on Wednesday morning.
Brochu did not comment during her appearance. The case was transferred to Hartford Superior Court with a court date of Nov. 15, at the request of Assistant State’s Attorney Carl Ajello, the Courant reported.
Police said Brochu told them she “began to lash out due to a ‘hostile environment’ caused by rude behavior, not compromising, and posting Snapchat videos of me sleeping and making fun of me snoring.”
She admitted she licked her former roommate’s plate, fork, and spoon, and smeared her own bodily fluid on the victim’s backpack, but denied other accusations she had posted on Instagram.
Brochu told police that “anything else she bragged about on social media was a lie in an attempt to ‘appear funny,’” the Courant reported.
The University of Hartford’s administration saw nothing funny about the situation. Brochu has been expelled.
“One of our students was the alleged victim of bullying and her story was shared across social media. Let me be clear: the accused student’s behavior was reprehensible and does not reflect the values of our institution,” University of Hartford President Gregory S. Woodward wrote in an open letter to the student body, posted on the university’s website on Oct. 31.
“The University strictly and swiftly followed all procedural and legal processes related to this alleged event; claims to the contrary are based on misinformation. The incident has brought about accusations of racism, and I want you to know that I hear and share your anger and frustration. Acts of racism, bias, bullying, or other abusive behaviors will not be tolerated on this campus. I pledge to do everything in my power to work with our community to address related concerns together,” Woodward wrote.
Woodward said the school was doing everything possible to support the “affected student,” and posted another press statement on Wednesday morning.
“As of this morning, Brianna Brochu is no longer a student at the University of Hartford. She will not be returning to the institution,” Woodward wrote.