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- Racial slur found on New Hall door (Hatchet Web Update, Nov. 2, 9:51 p.m.)
- FBI called in to assist with swastika investigation (Hatchet Web Update, Nov. 2, 5:10 a.m.)
- News Analysis: What is a hate crime? (The Hatchet, Nov. 1)
- An eighth swastika is found overnight in Mitchell Hall (The Hatchet, Nov. 1)
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When freshman Sarah Marshak glanced at the whiteboard mounted to her residence hall door Tuesday evening, she expected to find notes from friends, not a swastika.
Marshak, also a Hatchet Reporter, immediately informed her house proctor when she saw the offensive symbol and her house proctor contacted the University Police Department. As of press time, Marshak was not sure if UPD had identified the individual responsible for drawing the symbol nor was UPD available for comment.
In an interview with The Hatchet Wednesday night, Marshak, who is Jewish, said she is still in shock about the drawing, although this was not the first time she said she has been affected by anti-Semitism.
“I’ve heard it (at GW), in Florida and on a trip to Poland, too,” Marshak said of her experiences with anti-Semitism.
Marshak added she does not believe the symbol was meant as a personal attack but as one waged on the Jewish community. She also likened the drawing to other forms of racism.
“It may just be a symbol to some, but not to those in the Jewish community,” Marshak said. “It holds incredible meaning to us. This would be like someone drawing a noose on the door of someone who was black.”
A member of First Year Students of Hillel, Marshak said she also contacted the organization but hopes she will not be branded by the symbol.
“I spoke to Hillel, but I don’t want it to go that far. I don’t want to be known as ‘the swastika girl,'” she said.
Freshman Mindy Michaels, a close friend of Marshak and also a member of Hillel, was appalled by the symbol and how someone could consider this a joke.
“I’m shocked that at a place like GW, where people are supposed to be smart, someone would resort to drawing a symbol of hate,” Michaels said.
She added that the campus community should know about the drawing and the effect it can have on the Jewish community.
“People should realize that this isn’t a joke to many people, especially those Jewish students,” Michaels said. “We (in the Jewish community) all gain from each others feelings regarding anti-Semitism and people need to know this is not acceptable.”
- Related articles:
- New swastika found in New Hall (Hatchet Web Update, Nov. 2, 9:42 p.m.)
- Racial slur found on New Hall door (Hatchet Web Update, Nov. 2, 9:51 p.m.)
- FBI called in to assist with swastika investigation (Hatchet Web Update, Nov. 2, 5:10 a.m.)
- News Analysis: What is a hate crime? (The Hatchet, Nov. 1)
- An eighth swastika is found overnight in Mitchell Hall (The Hatchet, Nov. 1)
- University: Seventh swastika not yet hate crime (Hatchet Web Update, Oct. 29, 7:53 p.m.)
- More swastikas found on door (The Hatchet, Oct. 29)
- Swastika drawn on door (The Hatchet, Oct. 25)
