The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has stepped up police presence on campus in response to a group that displayed a swastika image on a dorm room for students.
The event occurred on Sunday at 5:40 p.m., one day before the start of the spring semester. According to experts, there has been a sharp rise in antisemitic occurrences in the US in the months following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 and the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
According to a news statement from the school’s chancellor, Corey A. King, four people were seen by police yelling “racist words, lighting what appeared to be road flares and displaying antisemitic symbols” outside a dorm on campus.
A swastika has been projected onto the side of the Knilans residential hall in a picture that has been shared on social media.
King stated in the message that the group had departed the area before the cops arrived.
The university has “no reason to believe there is any current threat to safety on campus,” according to the chancellor, but out of “an abundance of caution,” the police presence has been enhanced.
Hours before the incident, Toni Pharm, a mother who dropped her daughter off at the dorm, told CNN affiliate CBS 58 that she had received a “alarming message” from her daughter and had phoned campus police.
It’s quite unsettling. I consider it to be a heinous act of terrorism,” Pharm said. “I found this to be too close for comfort.”
According to a news release earlier this month from the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic occurrences in the US “skyrocketed” in the three months following the October 7 attack by Hamas, reaching 3,291 incidents by January 7. According to the ADL, this figure indicated an almost 360% rise in antisemitic incidents that were reported in comparison to the same period last year.
According to the ADL, there were over 1,300 antisemitic demonstrations, over 1,300 instances of verbal or written harassment, over 550 instances of vandalism, and 56 instances of physical assault among the reported occurrences. It’s unknown if rallies were recorded the previous year.
Junior Brooklyn Stevenson expressed her concern over the event to CNN affiliate CBS 58.
She told the channel, “It’s really concerning that that happened on the first day back.”
“I chose to come here because the school featured many different clubs and programs and was among the best in terms of diversity and inclusivity. Thus, to witness that, is just incredibly alarming and startling,” Stevenson remarked.
“The acts of the individuals are consistent with a group that has been visiting other campuses, and has no affiliation” with the institution, King wrote in the statement.
“The group’s last-night acts are disgusting and contrary to our basic beliefs. The statement said, “At UW-Whitewater, our goal is to establish a secure environment where everyone has a feeling of community. “We’re proud of the Warhawk family. All forms of hate are rejected by us.
According to King, those who have been affected can get counseling assistance from the institution.