Two San Jose State University students face punishment that could include suspension or expulsion from the school after swastikas were discovered in two campus residence halls.
The swastikas were found Sept. 20 on floors primarily housing first-year students, SJSU President Mary Papazian said in a pair of letters to the campus.
According to reports, one of the symbols was formed using name tags from room doors and accompanied by the phrase, “Admit One Jew,” and the other was drawn with marker on a whiteboard in a residence hall suite.
“While I remain disheartened and outraged by these profoundly hurtful acts, I am also encouraged by the response from our campus and broader community,” Papazian wrote after returning a day early from a meeting in Long Beach to address the issue. “We are focused on continuing to engage and support open dialogue with, and among, students, faculty and staff members, and community leaders.”
SJSU media relations director Pat Harris said this week that hate-crime charges against the students were unlikely because “the evidence suggests those responsible were not targeting an individual.”
“One student has been identified in each building [Washburn Hall and Campus Village]. The incidents are not related,” Harris said in an email. “Both students are subject to the student conduct process — sanctions could range from education to suspension or expulsion.”
Papazian and other school officials met last week with students, faculty members and representatives from Hillel of Silicon Valley to discuss the incidents, which also were expected to be addressed at a Sept. 29 conversation on campus climate and a town hall meeting next week.
“We all want to understand and make sense of these deeply disturbing acts,” Papazian said. “I’ve been reminded by several of you that symbols and words can carry different meaning and significance depending on one’s age, ethnicity, race, gender, faith and other factors.”
Congressman Mike Honda, a Democrat who has represented the Silicon Valley district that includes SJSU since 2000, said in a Facebook post last week that he was “hurt and outraged that these hateful actions occurred at my alma mater and were directed at my constituents.”