Hofstra students fed up with lack of response to recurring antisemitic vandalism

A swastika was found on the side of Constitution Hall. // Photo courtesy of The Hofstra Clocktower.

As originally reported by The Hofstra Clocktower, Hofstra students discovered a swastika drawn in dirt on the side of Constitution Hall on Monday, Oct. 18. 

“Hofstra denounces antisemitism and all forms of discrimination and hate and we stand with our Jewish community members,” said Hofstra University President Susan Poser in a statement released after the incident.

Similar occurrences in the past happened during Rosh Hashanah in September 2020 when residents of Constitution Hall discovered a swastika carved into the elevator wall. On Oct. 3, 2020, residents found an additional swastika carved into the same elevator along with the word “Bibi,” a nickname for Benjamin Netanyahu, the then prime minister of Israel.

A swastika was found drawn with a black marker on the sidewalk in front of the Nassau-Suffolk residential complex in 2019, according to a Public Safety report at the time, making 2021 the third year in a row that at least one swastika has surfaced on Hofstra’s campus.

Former University President Stuart Rabinowitz wrote a similar statement following the 2020 incidents. 

“There is no place for antisemitism or any other form of discrimination at Hofstra University,” Rabinowitz said in a statement from Oct. 8, 2020.

Some students believe this string of antisemitic vandalism incidents is a recurring pattern for Hofstra University.

“I think it’s a Hofstra problem,” said Amanda Lepperauge, a junior criminology and sociology double major. “All three years I’ve been here, they’re like ‘Sorry. This doesn’t represent Hofstra’s values,’ in an email, but that’s not enough.” 

Lepperauge said the University needs to take bigger steps to stop antisemitism on campus, citing her frustration with these recurring vandalism incidents. 

“Why is it not stopping?” Lepperauge said.

Other students say they feel unsafe being on campus with the culprit(s) still uncaught.

“It’s bullshit and it’s scary,” said Chloe Selzick, a sophomore drama major. “Third year in a row and still nothing has been done about it. And it’s in the same place.”

According to a representative from the Office of Public Safety, the Oct. 18 incident is still being investigated in cooperation with the Nassau County Police Department.

“I feel like if there was a formal investigation, they should tell us about it,” Selzick said.

Selzick hopes that whoever is responsible for the vandalism is caught.

“If it’s one person, that’s easier to deal with. If it’s a group of people, that’s worse,” Selzick said. “I don’t want to believe that there’s a group of people that wants to do that at this school, but it’s not hard to believe given the state of the universe right now.”