The University of Rochester posted hundreds of “Wanted” signs with the images of Jewish faculty members.
Some of the posters accused faculty of “ethnic cleansing,” “racism,” and “hate speech.” Another poster accused a faculty member of the “displacement of Palestinians.”
University of Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf said in a statement, “I want to be as clear as I can that the University of Rochester strongly denounces the recent display of ‘Wanted’ posters targeting senior University leaders and members of our faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees.”
“This act is disturbing, divisive and intimidating and runs counter to our values as a university,” she continued. “Furthermore, several of those depicted appear to have been targeted because they are members of our Jewish community. We view this as antisemitism, which will not be tolerated at our University. This isn’t who we are. This goes against everything we stand for and we have an obligation to reject it.”
The university’s Department of Public Safety is investigating the matter and “exhausting all available resources to collect evidence and hold those involved accountable for their actions.”
In a community message addressing the vandalism, University Public Safety Chief Quchee Collins called the posters “unacceptable.”
“Any activities, including the placement of these posters, that disrupt our normal operations and classroom instruction will not be tolerated. Additionally, it seems that the goal of this vandalism is to intimidate members of our University community, which is an action that runs counter to our Meliora values.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the posters.
The university’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter said in October, as per the Rochester Beacon, that they demand “complete divestment from Israeli institutions and corporations complicit in the oppression of Palestinians. Every dollar and every resource funneled into these ties perpetuates violence and injustice.”
