2 swastikas and hateful language found at SJSU residence hall
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU) - Two swastikas and hateful language were found at San Jose State University residence halls campus officials said Wednesday evening.
The University president sent an email notifying students, staff and faculty at 5 p.m. about the situation. The hate language and symbols were found in Washburn Hall and Campus Village, which the president says are floors that primarily house first-year students.
The president said the following in a statement:
"I am both saddened and outraged by this news. Although I am in Long Beach for CSU meetings, I have spoken with campus and community leaders and shared our resolve to provide a safe learning environment where difficult issues can be addressed collaboratively and transparently."
University staff met with students at an on-campus meeting at 9 p.m. on Wednesday that was not open to the media.
Students said they were uneasy about the discovery and some said it made them feel unsafe on campus.
One of the swastikas was made out of name badge stickers and placed on a door according to campus officials. In the other case the swastika was found in a common area shared by seven students where only they have the keys. In this instance the symbol was drawn on a dry-erase board in marker. There was also racial hate speech written on the board that has since been removed.
Earlier this year the University hired its first chief diversity officer, Kathleen Wong (Lau).
"I would say a few students I know of are upset. Upset on behalf of other people. Upset at the existence about these types of hate symbols and incidents," Wong said.
"I don't know if I want people to take it further said said Freshman Katy Brecher. "I don't want people to start getting hurt, people having to transfer out because they feel unsafe. That doesn't make feel safe here."
"They need to do something about it so people just don't think it's okay," said Freshman Jennifer Landreth.
The San Jose State University President is in Long Beach for work-related meetings. However, she is cutting her trip short and coming back Thursday. The University Police are conducting interviews with students and staff and reviewing surveillance video.