Editor’s Note: A closer look will be taken at the nature of the initial vandalism report and how ODU determined the nature of the act committed on ODU Hillel’s crown.
On the evening of Oct. 22, ODU students received an email from the Dean of Students Office with the subject line “Antisemitic Vandalism on Kaufman Mall.”
The email details that the ODU Hillel crown on Kaufman Mall was vandalized, calling the act “deeply disturbing – particularly due to its targeted, antisemitic nature.”
The ODU chapter of Hillel, an international Jewish student organization, painted one of many white crown icons painted on the walkways of Kaufman Mall, like many student organizations did on Oct. 21 as a part of ODU’s “Claim Your Crown” tradition. They painted the Star of David, the Instagram handle for ODU Jewish Studies, text in Hebrew reading “the People of Israel are alive,” a hashtag with a blue square referencing Stop Jewish Hate, and the phrase “Bring Them Home Now.”
The vandalism in question includes large and random sprays of red liquid across the white background of the crown, overlapping with one of the points of the Star of David.
Administration is encouraging students to report any information they may have on the vandalism to ODUPD or the Office of Student Accountability & Academic Integrity. The email correspondence also encouraged students to extend their support to the members of Hillel and to use the ODU SAFE App to access support services.
