AN “Ask an Atheist Day” event at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, turned nasty this week when Alexander M Huppert, a freshman university studies major, stabbed himself in the hand with a pen, then assaulted an officer who approached to check his welfare.



Prove to us God existed.

After a short struggle with the officer and several witnesses, he was taken into custody.The incident took place on Wednesday near a table promoting a local version of “Ask an Atheist Day.” The student group Freethinkers at Virginia Tech sponsored the table.Witnesses said Huppert stood near the table for nearly an hour, then borrowed a pen and drew a circle with a cross inside on the back of his hand.Nicole Schrand, a senior psychology major, said Huppert then asked students at the table to stab him in the cross with the pen to:

The students declined.

Schrand said:

We don’t believe in assaulting people. We’re very against assaulting people.

Huppert then asked for the pen back, a request Schrand and other students declined. Seeing another pen, Huppert grabbed it and began stabbing himself in the back of the hand.

Schrand said:

If it had been a more streamlined pen, I would have expected it to go through.

When a police officer showed up, he was “smacked” by the “glassy-eyed” Huppert.

While in custody Huppert broke out a police car window and assaulted two other officers. None of the officers’ injuries required medical attention, and no other individuals were injured during the incident.

Huppert was charged with three counts of felony assault on a police officer, as well as charges of resisting arrest and destruction of property.

He was processed and transferred to Montgomery County Jail, where he is being held without bond.