by Three Jewish students at the University of Denver Colorado (UD) suffered a series of anti-Semitic incidents, including someone placing pork outside a Jewish student’s dormitory and mezuzahs being knocked over, prompting the school to launch an investigation, according to an email from the university on Monday. employees.
StandWithUs (SWU), an anti-Semitic organization, first reported the incidents on Tuesday, showing photos of a package of pork outside a student’s dorm and several fliers that were ripped from the student’s door. The university announced in an email obtained by SWU that it was investigating allegations of vandalism and religious harassment by three Jewish students between Feb. 9-12. (RELATED: Pro-Palestinian Group Sings for ‘Intifada Revolution’ at Historically Jewish University)
“As some of you may have heard, last Thursday, a Johnson-MacFarlane resident’s door was vandalized; and last night, two residents of Nagel Hall reported that their doors were vandalized and religious items removed over the weekend,” UD Vice Chancellor Tom Adams said in the email. “The University has provided a range of support to students directly affected and continues to investigate these incidents.”
Although the university’s email did not provide details of the incidents, SWU explained in its press release that a Jewish mezuzah, a sacred scroll pinned to the doors of Jewish homes, had been ripped off two doors, in addition to the leaflets, and in a separate incident, the package of pork was left outside another door. Pork is one of many foods considered non-Kosher, or unclean, by Jews.
UD students were directed to report any information about vandalism to the UD Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX, according to the email.
Jon Stone, a spokesman for UD, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the university was dealing with the situation and condemned the incidents.
“We want to make it clear that these acts are NOT acceptable within the DU community and recognize the harm that has been done to members of our community,” said Stone. “All students, faculty and staff deserve a place to live, learn and work that is respectful, welcoming and safe. Each of us shares responsibility for promoting this environment through our actions.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: A yeshiva school bus passes through Borough Park on September 12, 2022 in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
SWU thanked UD for “initiating a thorough and prompt investigation” and called on the school to hold individuals “responsible to the fullest extent” accountable.
A recent report by the American Jewish Committee found that one in four Jews will experience anti-Semitism in 2022, and 21% of Jewish youth indicated that they hide their Jewish identity on college campuses out of fear of harassment or assault.
“As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, I am shocked and horrified by the religious nature of these anti-Semitic attacks that took place in 2023,” said Roz Rothstein, CEO of StandWithUs, in the SWU press release. “It is no coincidence that the rise of anti-Zionist and anti-Jewish rhetoric and campaigns on campus has contributed to the rise of anti-Semitic incidents against Jewish students. University administrators must recognize this problem and address anti-Semitism on their campuses quickly and seriously.”
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