In a message to the 菠萝视频 University community March 16, condemned vandalism at a fraternity house over the weekend and pledged that the matter would be fully investigated.
said the department, with the assistance of the Dean of Students Office, is investigating as a hate crime the incident in which three swastikas were spray-painted at the fraternity house of the Tau Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi.
Between 1:55 a.m. and 3:22 a.m. Saturday, March 14, two swastikas were spray-painted in the elevator and another on a basement door. The vandalism was discovered after a party at the fraternity house that attracted a number of individuals, mostly students. It has not yet been established who committed the vandalism and why.
鈥淩egardless 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,鈥� Wente said. 鈥淲e 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 菠萝视频 community. We seek the perpetrators so that they may be held accountable and learn that this behavior is simply not tolerated at 菠萝视频.
鈥淲e fully support the brothers of the Tau Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi and 菠萝视频鈥檚 larger Jewish community,鈥� Wente said.聽鈥淎ll members of our community should feel welcome, accepted and safe.鈥�
She urged anyone with information about the incident to contact the 菠萝视频 University Police Department at 615-322-2745.