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Swastika Written In Human Feces Found In Bathroom At RISD

The college is investigating the anti-Semitic incident.
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A top U.S. art school is investigating an act of anti-Semitism on campus that may make some stomachs turn.

A swastika drawn in human waste was recently discovered in a gender-neutral bathroom in a dormitory at the Rhode Island School of Design.

“This level of disrespect and vitriol is completely unacceptable and RISD Public Safety is investigating this isolated incident as both an act of vandalism and potentially a crime of hate,” Jaime Marland, director of RISD public relations, said in a statement to The Huffington Post.

Marland added that college authorities held a community meeting with the affected dormitory floor and are encouraging anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

“We are deeply committed to providing a safe and supportive campus environment for our students and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind,” she told HuffPost.

It’s unclear whether the anti-Semitic incident was also aimed at LGBT students, given the national debate over trans students’ access to restrooms that match their gender identities.

Brown RISD Hillel, a Jewish campus organization, said it was “saddened and angered” by what had happened.

“To say we condemn the RISD graffiti is too mild and obvious a statement,” said Rabbi Michelle T. Dardashti, an associate chaplain at the college.

“Students of Jewish history understand that deadly anti-Semitism has been cyclical, thus current manifestations (in the forms of graffiti, bomb threats, cemetery vandalism and white-supremacist and alt right rhetoric) are hard to write off as trivial or innocuous,” Dardashti said in an email to HuffPost.

Students told NBC 10 that the swastika was just the latest of several feces-related acts of vandalism that have occurred on campus.

“There have people using their own fecal matter in a harmful way in the bathrooms, in the showers, all over the bathroom,” one student said.

The incident comes a time when the U.S. is witnessing a wave of anti-Semitism. Eleven Jewish community centers received bomb threats on Monday, forcing evacuations in ten states. After strong urging by press and fellow politicians, President Donald Trump finally denounced anti-Semitism on Tuesday.

“The anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community and Jewish community centers are horrible and painful and a very sad reminder of the work that must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil,” Trump said.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading Jewish human rights organization, has called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to create a special task force to investigate threats targeting Jewish community centers around the nation.

This story has been updated with comment from Rabbi Michelle T. Dardashti.

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Before You Go

Jewish Social Justice Organizations
Jewish Farm School(01 of08)
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The Jewish Farm School is dedicated to teaching about contemporary food and environmental issues through innovative trainings and skill-based Jewish agricultural education. We are driven by traditions of using food and agriculture as tools for social justice and spiritual mindfulness. Through our programs, we address the injustices embedded in today's mainstream food systems and work to create greater access to sustainably grown foods, produced from a consciousness of both ecological and social well being. (credit:Jewish Farm School)
Repair the World(02 of08)
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Repair the World works to inspire American Jews and their communities to give their time and effort to serve those in need. We aim to make service a defining part of American Jewish life. (credit:Repair the World)
Challah for Hunger(03 of08)
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Challah for Hunger brings people together to raise money and awareness for social justice -- through challah bread. Our more than 40 chapters, on college campuses throughout the U.S. and beyond, engage young people in community, tradition, hands-on baking, activism and philanthropy. (credit:Challah for Hunger)
Uri L' Tzedek(04 of08)
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Uri L'Tzedek is an Orthodox social justice organization guided by Torah values and dedicated to combating suffering and oppression. Through community based education, leadership development and action, Uri L'Tzedek creates discourse, inspires leaders and empowers the Jewish community toward creating a more just world. (credit:Uri L' Tzedek)
Leket Israel(05 of08)
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Each year, with the help of 40,000 volunteers, Leket Israel rescues over 700,000 meals and 21 million lbs of produce and perishable goods, and supplies more than 1.25 million (7,500/school day) volunteer-prepared sandwiches to underprivileged children. Food, that would have otherwise gone to waste, is redistributed to hundreds of nonprofit partners caring for the needy. (credit:Leket Israel)
Yad Sarah(06 of08)
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Yad Sarah's mission is to keep the ill and the elderly in their homes and out of institutions as long as possible. Home care in the natural environment of the family is most conducive to healthy recuperation, both physically and emotionally. It also costs both family and state much less. Thirty years after it was founded, Yad Sarah has 103 branches throughout Israel run by more than 6,000 volunteers, and saves the Israeli economy about $320 million a year in hospitalization and medical costs. (credit:Yad Sarah)
ATZUM(07 of08)
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ATZUM was established in 2002 to remedy injustices in Israeli society, and encourage individuals to become social activists and agents of change. The organization was founded on the belief that Israel should serve as an example for the rest of the world in regards to combating and resolving social problems and social justice crises. (credit:ATZUM)
Jewish Eco Seminars(08 of08)
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JES engages and educates the Jewish community by revealing the powerful connection between modern Israel, ecological innovation and Jewish values. It works to deliver dynamic, experiential educational programming to a wide range of Jews in Israel and North America. (credit:Jewish Eco Seminars)
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