Vanderbilt: Swastikas Painted on Jewish Frat House

By Sarah Fisher on March 18, 2015

Last weekend, three swastikas were painted on the side of Jewish fraternity house at Vanderbilt University.

Students found the graffiti early Saturday after a party at the Alpha Epsilon Pi house on Vanderbilt Place, according to a statement from Provost Susan R. Wente that was sent to students Monday. Two of the swastikas were spray-painted in the elevator, and a third was found on the basement door.

 "We were, obviously, horrified when we found these symbols throughout our house," said Josh Hyman, the student president of AEPi's Vanderbilt chapter,"but we know that these symbols of hate do not represent the attitudes of our fellow Vanderbilt students."

The AEPi fraternity executive director also made a reference to the growing anti-Semitic sentiment on campuses.

"The rising tide of anti-Semitism is very real and is undoubtedly connected to organized and concerted anti-Israel activities on college campuses," Hyman said in his statement. "AEPi proudly stands with Israel and, just as proudly, will work to allow our members to express their support for Israel as well as their Jewish heritage in any way they want."

The university's police are interviewing people and conducting investigations.

"Regardless of who is responsible and what the motivation was, the university condemns the reprehensible depiction of this symbol that since the time of Nazi Germany has come to be associated with hate, anti-Semitism, violence, death, and murder," wrote Provost Wente in an email. "We understand the anguish and pain that this hateful symbol causes and we stand together to condemn any effort to intimidate or send an unwelcoming message to the Jewish members of the Vanderbilt community."