Anti-Israel Vandalism Discovered on Campus, DPS Opens Second Bias Incident

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) has opened an investigation into stickers with anti-Israel slogans posted around campus that were discovered by several students last weekend. University spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill confirmed in an email to The Daily Princetonian that DPS is investigating this as a bias incident.

This is the second bias-related incident related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this month. On September 6, a graduate student found about 30 clippings reading “Nuke Gaza” and “Kill Roaches” near an entrance to Spelman Hall, an incident that remains under investigation.

Following these discriminatory messages on campus, Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity Michele Minter addressed these bias incidents at a Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC) meeting on Monday. At the meeting, Minter reviewed Princeton's policies on discrimination and/or harassment and then discussed a specific subcategory of harassment—hostile environment harassment—which states: “It must be experienced by one person, but that person does not have to be experienced by that person.” “Who was specifically targeted.” She called on the community to report graffiti and similar items to the Dean's Office for Undergraduate Students (ODUS).

As President of the Princeton Tigers for Israel, I am deeply disgusted and disturbed by such violent and anti-Semitic signs as:

– “Tel Aviv will burn”
– “Liberate Palestine: Armed Struggle +…PFLP” (terrorist organization), followed by a rifle (Hezbollah logo)
– “We support Hamas”… pic.twitter.com/loMYfZDqFo

— Maximillian Meyer (@MaxMeyerNY) September 30, 2024

Students found the stickers on Washington Road, Elm Drive, near McCosh and around Cannon Green. They were written on United States Postal Service shipping labels and included statements such as “Death to Israel” and “Tel-Aviv will burn,” among other messages in support of Hamas.

According to Maximillian Meyer '27, president of Tigers for Israel, students involved in Tigers for Israel reported the stickers to ODUS administrators, who referred the case to DPS. DPS removed the flyers on Monday, September 30th.

After reporting the flyers, students received emails of support from various campus figures, including Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Ian Deas, Director of Institutional Equity and EEO Cheri Burgess, and Residential College leaders.

The emails expressed concern for the students who reported the incidents and directed them to various forms of support, including residence hall management, counseling and psychological services, the Office of Religious Life and the Ombudsman's Office. The emails also included links to information about the university's policies on bias, discrimination and/or harassment and how to file a bias report.

“These are resources that could help a student who was struggling with news like this,” Meyer said, referring to the resources sent out to individual students after last weekend’s incident, “but they don’t help “To get to the root of the problem.” That means people feel comfortable spreading and publishing these messages themselves.”

Meyer said he had informal conversations with an ODUS and DPS staff member, both of whom were “supportive and understood that this cannot continue” and were committed to ensuring students receive support following these incidents.

“But at the same time, I think something is missing — and not at an individual level, but at an institutional level — when events like this are … swept under the rug,” Meyers said.

“It would be optimal if the university issued a statement explicitly condemning the existence of these images, specifically condemning the messages conveyed in these images, and specifically condemning any violence or threat of violence against any group on or on campus,” added he added.

In a statement to the Prince, Minter wrote: “Princeton deplores any hate speech that undermines our values ​​of respect and inclusion. “Anonymous, offensive statements – particularly those containing rhetorical threats of violence – are particularly unwelcome.”

Elisabeth Stewart is an assistant news editor for the Prince, typically covering student groups and religious life on campus.

Please send corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.