By Danielle Arfin
Princeton, N.J. — A swastika was discovered last week inside the Lakeside Apartments, a graduate student residential complex at Princeton University, where Jewish students reside. The symbol has since been removed, but the university has not issued a public statement or notified the broader campus community—prompting concern among students and observers.
The incident was confirmed in a post by Jewish undergraduate student Max Meyer, who reported that the antisemitic graffiti was painted outside an apartment in a building where several Jewish students live. The building is currently undergoing construction, and it remains unclear whether the vandalism was committed by a student or a contractor. No suspects have been identified.
Princeton University’s official policy on discrimination and/or harassment states that “acts of hate, discrimination, or intimidation have no place in our community” and encourages reporting through multiple channels. Yet the university has made no public acknowledgment of the incident.
According to individuals familiar with the matter, the university’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office chose not to notify the broader student body, reportedly out of concern that doing so might “amplify the hateful message.” For many, the lack of transparency is itself alarming.
“It is important to note that while we don’t know who drew this swastika, the school should be commenting on the action and condemning it,” said Max Meyer in a statement to Wingate News. “The school must warn students about the presence of such an individual on campus. This is happening amidst the backdrop of Jews being firebombed and killed in American cities for being Jewish. It is imperative that when acts of antisemitism take place, the university warn its students. The university’s silence on this incident and antisemitism in general on campus by the pro-Hamas crowd is shameful and contributes to the proliferation of hate.”
As of publication, Princeton University has not responded to requests for comment.
The incident comes amid a broader national reckoning over how universities are responding to rising antisemitism. Since October 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened investigations into at least 60 colleges and universities for potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, including Jewish identity.
Several institutions, including Columbia and Brown, have reached high-profile settlements with the federal government. Columbia University agreed to a $200 million compliance agreement that includes the appointment of an independent monitor, while Brown committed $50 million to campus equity reforms. These developments underscore the growing legal and reputational consequences for universities that fail to adequately address antisemitism on campus.
One Response
Princeton funken sucks just has bad as Columbia and harvard who has a scum bag president scared shit liberal jew