In a campus-wide e-mail released Monday, Assistant Dean of Student Life Rev. Nathaniel Mays condemned an act of vandalism that defaced the outside of the North Quad AB Lounge with a swastika. "We must not allow mean-spirited individuals to create distrust and feelings of apathy within our community," Mays wrote, citing the fallout from several incidents last semester. Shortly after sending the letter, which he wrote over the past week, Mays later elaborated on his message to the University.

"We don't need it," Mays said. "Even if we didn't have [the events of] last semester, we still didn't need it."

Measuring approximately nine inches, the symbol was reported on Nov. 13 by a North resident to Residence Life, who then immediately contacted Public Safety and Facilities to remove it.

Two days later the inscriptions, "Jew U" and "Kill me now," were found written alongside each other in the snow on Chapel's Field around 8 p.m. Currently, no one has been apprehended for the swastika or the offensive messages found in the snow.

"[The swastika and the two inscriptions on Chapel's Field] are appalling," Mays said in an interview Thursday. "Given the kind of issues we faced last semester, the last thing we needed to start this semester was with other mean symbols of hate."

Even though the swastika was drawn near a major pathway, few residents noticed it according to North Quad Director Rusmir Music. The following day, Music addressed an e-mail to all North Quad residents informing them of the incident upon Mays' suggestion, encouraging them to contact Public Safety if they had any details about it and to approach him or other members in Residence or Student Life for support.

"Clearly, this and similar expressions of hate will not be tolerated in the Brandeis community," Music said in his e-mail.

Music ended his e-mail saying, "no hate. Not on our campus. Not in our community. Not anywhere. Raise your voices to unite Brandeis in diversity."

North Quad residents Jen Pollack '06 who were unaware of the swastika's presence, were surprised to learn about it in Music's e-mail, especially in light of last semester's events, including the flyers posted throughout the campus by Min Moldover '07 mocking the "one thought at a time campaign" headed by the Student Union and Mays.

"I didn't actually see the swastika, but when Rusmir sent the e-mail my first reaction was shock," Pollack said. "For whatever reason there seems to be an outbreak of hateful acts this year. I always thought of Brandeis as a place of acceptance."

Music added that the swastika's presence was sudden and left many residents feeling confused. He also said that no footsteps were found in the snow near the wall where the swastika was drawn, so it is unclear when the symbol first appeared.

"No one knew what to take out of it," Music said. "It was strange."

Also in his e-mail, Music said that Mays and his advisory board dedicated to promoting diversity will be meeting to discuss concerns and coordinate ongoing educational opportunities.

One possibility includes a program that takes a "historical look at the swastika, and how it has been used to cause pain and hurt, or other symbols that could cause pain for our community," Mays said.

Music applauds educational opportunities like these, adding that it might be a way to prevent future incidents of prejudices on campus.

"[The swastika] was something that initially seemed isolated," Music said. "If it's something we see as a pattern we should do something more proactive than reactive."

Like the swastika, the inscriptions, "Jew U" and "Kill me now" written alongside each other in the snow on Chapel's Field also incited shock.

"Upon first glance at the snow on Chapel's field, I thought I was hallucinating," Heather Daugherty '06 said. "I looked again, and the words 'Jew' and 'Kill' were clearly written next to each other. As I got closer, I realized that the two words were part of two different messages, 'Jew U' and 'Kill Me Now.' While they may have in fact been part of two different messages, their proximity was appalling."

Jewish Chaplain and Hillel Executive Director Rabbi Allan Lehmann said he was disappointed to learn of these incidents of hate on campus.

"It doesn't take a lot of intelligence or maturity to do either of these things because there's lots of room for good communication to take place, and these aren't examples of it," Lehmann said.

Mays also says he is observing a national trend in racist and anti-Semitic episodes at colleges and universities.

"Unfortunately, I think with the demographics of the college-going population of the United States becoming so diverse, I don't think these things are going to disappear," he said. Despite his cautions, Mays holds that his office will combat this trend forcefully.

"It has to be made clear, in stating that we don't accept these behaviors as welcoming behaviors," Mays said.

Callahan added that the acts of vandalism stemming from anti-Semitism this semester-and racism last semester-are "very much a concern of Public Safety."

"It seems like last semester was very tumultuous and there was a lack of tolerance...it's important to respect each other regardless of race, creed or any other difference," Callahan said.

According to Callahan, last semester marked a high point for hate crimes.

"[These crimes] just seem to be in different proportions than in all the other years I've been here," said Callahan, who has been at Brandeis for over 20 years.

Residence and Student Life stress that they are always willing to hear student opinions and offer support.

"We're available for ideas and conversation," Mays said. "And if students have an idea on how to deal with this we're more than happy to implement a program."



- Benjamin Freed contributed to this report.



*Editors' Note: According to Callahan, the name of the student who filed the report with Public Safety regarding the swastika could not be released due to confidentiality reasons.