Jewish Hofstra students are demanding change from the administration after Anti-Semitic vandalism was found in one of the residence halls. // Photo courtesy of The Hofstra Clocktower.
Hofstra officials are investigating two acts of anti-Semitic vandalism that took place in Constitution Hall between late September and early October this year.
During the Jewish high holiday of Rosh Hashana, residents of Constitution Hall discovered a swastika carved into the elevator wall. On Saturday, Oct. 3, another swastika was found carved in the elevator of Constitution Hall along with the name “Bibi,” a nickname for Benjamin Netanyahu, the current prime minister of Israel.
“We condemn discrimination, bias and prejudice in all its forms, and reaffirm our commitment to hold accountable any member of our community who fails to live up to Hofstra’s core values of diversity and inclusion,” Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz wrote in an email to students on Thursday, Oct. 8, addressing the vandalism. “There is no place for anti-Semitism or any other form of discrimination at Hofstra University.”
Rabinowitz announced the University’s ongoing investigation into the two incidents, as well as its plans to reinforce the Code of Community Standards through the University’s “No Hate @ Hofstra” initiative.
The latest two cases of anti-Semitic vandalism on campus have generated strong responses from Jewish students at Hofstra, some of whom feel frustrated with the University’s response to what they perceive to be a persistent anti-Semitism problem on campus.
“’No Hate @ Hofstra’ is the stupidest thing ever because it’s not going to do anything,” said Maxie DeBiso, a sophomore Jewish studies major. “And you’re never going to catch the person who drew a swastika in an elevator. I’m sorry, you’re just never going to catch that person, so why open an investigation?”
Other students feel frustrated with what they say is a consistent delay by the University to comment on anti-Semitic incidents.
Anti-Semitic vandalism in the elevator of Constitution Hall. // Photo courtesy of The Hofstra Clocktower.
“What took Rabinowitz so long to even tell us?” said Theo Scheiner, a sophomore biology major and Jewish student at Hofstra. Scheiner pointed out that these two incidents happened several days prior to Rabinowitz’s email. He also said that in the past, the University’s comment on anti-Semitic events has come out far after the fact.
“This is what they’ve done every time something has happened,” Scheiner said. “Something needs to be addressed or changed.”
Hofstra Dean of Students Gabrielle St. Léger sent out a subsequent email on Friday, Oct. 10, addressing the incidents.
“As Dean of Students, I am deeply hurt and disappointed that our Jewish students have been exposed to and made a target of hate during their season of celebrating the Jewish holy days,” St. Léger wrote in the email. She added that students can report cases of discrimination anonymously through the University’s new online reporting system.
As the University tries to investigate the incident and reinforce the Code of Community Standards, the carved swastikas are still at the forefront of many Jewish students’ minds.
“How do you think that makes every Jewish student on campus feel?” DeBiso said. “It puts everyone on edge. Being a Jewish student in general, you very much walk around with a target on your back. I just want people to understand that we are targeted a majority of the time.”
