Dear AU Community,

This afternoon, a swastika was reported in a ceiling tile of an Anderson Hall bathroom. Immediately, Housing and Residence Life staff and AUPD responded to the location, documented the scene, and removed the ceiling tile. The matter was also reported to the Office of Equity and Title IX for next steps under the Discrimination and non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct policy.

We condemn this hateful, antisemitic act. The discovery of this hate symbol during Rosh Hashanah, a holy time for our Jewish community members, adds to the harm and hurt. Antisemitism in any form takes a terrible toll and is unacceptable. We recognize that many of our Jewish community members may still be celebrating the holiday, but we wanted to make the community aware of the situation and share relevant safety and support resources as soon as possible.

We are committed to the safety and sense of belonging for our Jewish community members at American University. AUPD safety services, including the Rave Guardian Safety app and campus escort services, are available. Any member of the community affected by this incident can get support from our campus resources. Students can contact the 24-hour AU ProtoCall line at 202-885-7979 or the Center for Well-Being Programs at 202-885-3500, and students living in the residence halls can reach the Community Director on-call at their hall’s front desk. Faculty and staff can contact the BHS Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) at 800-327-2251 or on the MyBHS portal.

We are pursuing further information about this matter. It is unclear at this time when the incident occurred. There are no cameras in campus bathrooms due to appropriate privacy requirements. This means there is no video of the location where the swastika was found and identifying those who may be responsible could be difficult. We need the help of our community. If anyone has information about this incident, please immediately contact the Office of Equity and Title IX at equityoffice@american.edu or 202-885-8080, call the AUPD investigations line at 202-885-2999, or provide anonymous tips through the Rave Guardian Safety app. We will provide an update if further information becomes available.

This behavior is unacceptable, and we will confront antisemitism in all forms. There is more work to do to address these difficult situations, from educating about antisemitism to curtailing hate and bias acts. The university will continue engagement with our campus community and external partners to promote learning about these topics, inclusivity, and a greater sense of belonging. This is our ongoing commitment to our community and to each other.

I wish the only message I sent today was shanah tovah, but we wanted to share this information quickly.

Sincerely,
Sylvia