Swastikas Scrawled on Dorm Rooms in New York’s New School

By Marcy Oster November 14, 2016

— Swastikas were drawn on the doors of at least four dorm rooms at a New York university.

One of the dorm suites vandalized Saturday at The New School in Manhattan was home to four Jewish students.

One of the students tweeted a photo of her door.

We woke up to this on our door, in a dorm at @TheNewSchool, where 3 Jewish women live. @ShaunKing @deray @parsonsdesign pic.twitter.com/tK1IpXA1ae

— sam ☕ (@samlichtenstein) November 12, 2016

The student, Sam Lichtenstein, told the New York Daily News that she broke down in tears after she saw the swastika on her door.

The New School President David Van Zandt denounced the graffiti in a tweet and later in a statement.

Abhorrent. This is against every value of @TheNewSchool. We are taking immediate and appropriate action. https://t.co/w2TRE3pjCx

— David E. Van Zandt (@DavidVanZandt) November 12, 2016

“Our community standards are very strong and hate crimes are unacceptable at The New School. The New School is committed to tolerance, respect and diversity,” Van Zandt said in a statement hours after the graffiti was discovered.

Van Zandt said in a statement issued on Sunday that the New York City Police Department is “actively investigating” the anti-Semitic vandalism and the university is “cooperating fully.” He said he ordered an increase of security on campus.

A rise in such hate crimes has been reported since the election Tuesday of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States.

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