An LGBTQ commissioner of the Ohio University Student Senate Appropriations Commission was arrested Monday for allegedly sending herself fake hate messages.

Anna Ayers, a senior studying journalism, has been charged with three counts of making false alarms after campus police determined she posted the threats herself prior to reporting them.

Ms. Ayers told the Student Senate last week that she received an anonymous note in her office that “expressed extreme hatred … because of who I am,” Athens News reported Sunday. She said another message she received threatened her life because of her sexual orientation. She said she suspected the threats came “from within [the Senate]” and called on members to take immediate action.

“I have no interest in hearing from any of you that you are sorry that this happened, or that you can’t believe it happened at all,” she said. “Instead, I want each of you to do everything you can make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

The Student Senate responded by ending the open-space orientation of Student Senate offices in Baker Center and moving to replace the locks with electronic ID swipers, Athens News reported. It was unclear Wednesday whether the plan would move forward in light of Ms. Ayers‘ arrest.

“We are still processing and encouraging our members to take time to heal and utilize campus support resources right now,” Student Senate President Maddie Sloat said in a statement. “We’re complying with the investigation and OUPD. We hope Anna receives the help that she needs.”

Ms. Ayers resigned from her position Wednesday, a Student Senate spokeswoman told Campus Reform.

Making false alarms is a first-degree misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, student-run newspaper The Post reported.

Ms. Ayers is scheduled to appear Thursday morning in Athens County Municipal Court, the paper reported.

Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters

Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.