By Maya Shavit
Boston University News Service
Izzy Dorfman saw a swastika heading to class. Then she saw four more heading down Comm Ave.
Dorfman was one of the many Jewish students who spotted one of the approximately six Nazi logos on Boston University’s campus during the week of Dec. 1.
“This is just pure antisemitism and a call for genocide of Jews,” said Dorfman. “I was so sad to see it, but I was not surprised.”
Swastika stickers were seen on BU property — including FitRec and public property like bus stops — until Wednesday afternoon when they were removed by BU Facilities staff.
The swastikas were between blue and white lines, perversing an Israeli flag with the words “Stop funding Israeli terrorism” around the imagery, and replacing the Star of David.
“Nobody should be able to walk out of a BU building and see that,” said Sam Moller, president of the Jewish and Israeli Faculty and Staff Community Network.
According to a recent statement sent by President Melissa Gilliam to Jewish student leaders on campus, the ongoing investigation jointly led by the BUPD and Boston Police Department’s Civil Rights Unit has found that the stickers were put up on Thanksgiving evening.
“It’s the most abusive symbol for anyone to see,” said BU spokesperson Colin Riley. “It’s certainly intended to intimidate and harass.”
No statement has been made to the BU community in its entirety.
“It is so important to say something because if we don’t, that is a permission slip that makes this allowable in our community,” said Moller, hoping to hear from BU authorities soon.
Due to BU’s urban campus, there are blurry lines between city and university jurisdiction.
For Amanda Kopelman, president of Jewish on Campus at BU, ownership of campus culture should be enough to take a hard stance against antisemitism.
“I understand that it is not all their property, but it is their campus and community,” said Kopelman. “Especially when there are tours through the university with prospective students who may be Jewish, or even if they are not, a swastika is pretty offensive to anyone.”
Harvard’s campus, Brookline and Cambridge were also hit by similar stickers this fall.
“No matter where you stand on the war or the conflict, this clearly indicates the erasure of Jews,” said Kopelman.
An official suspect has not been identified, according to Riley.
Since the events of Oct. 7, 2023 and the war between Israel and Hamas that has followed, there has been an uptick in antisemitism across college campuses.
“It was not a priority to remove these stickers and this is what happens when things go unresolved,” said Dorfman, also noting a recent experience where she was filmed taking down a sticker from the College of Arts and Sciences building.
“Someone posted a video on Sidechat and called me a zionist pig,” said Dorfman. “But if the admin is not going to stand up for us, we are going to have to fend for ourselves.”
