Auburn police are investigating a campus assault last week that targeted an 18-year-old Auburn University student because he is Asian, according to the police report.

The man was standing outside Lane Residence Hall about 11:30 p.m. Thursday when he was attacked by four men, according to the report. The assault lasted for about two minutes and the victim suffered cuts to his lips, a swollen right cheek and a knot on the right side of his head.

The victim's cousin, a part-time graduate at Auburn, said he believes the attack was a reaction to last week's massacre at Virginia Tech which left 33 people dead. The gunman, Seung-Hui Cho, was Korean-American.

"During the attack, one of the assailants actually said it was because my cousin is Asian," said the cousin. He said both men are Korean. He asked their names not be used because he fears retaliation.

The victim did not report the attack, the cousin said, but after seeing the victim - whose face had swollen to twice its normal size on one side - the cousin took him to a hospital emergency room and filed a complaint with the Auburn Police Department.

Lt. Tommy Dawson of the Auburn Police Department said detectives are investigating the incident as an assault. "I can't say it's a hate crime right now because the detectives are still investigating," he said.

It was not known if the assailants were Auburn students.

"It is disturbing to receive a report about a physical assault on an Auburn student," school President Ed Richardson said in a statement. "Fortunately, he suffered no lasting or serious injuries. Auburn staff members are closely monitoring his recovery and will take all steps needed to provide him a smooth return to class and campus life."

He said the administration will work with police on the investigation and support punishment of those involved.