The fraternity house of Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) at Emory University became the subject of hate words and offensive graffiti that even included swastikas, an anti-semitism symbol, hours after Yom Kippur ended on Saturday. The university's paper Emory Wheel showed images of the swastikas spray-painted outside the jewish fraternity's building.
Various reactions from the university's community emerged after the said incident, since a similar episode happened last month when swastikas were also found in the campus library. Although there is no confirmation that the two cases are related, the university's campus police has started actively investigating and has increased its patrols around the area.
In an email to the campus, Emery University President James Wagner denounced the crime saying it is "a repugnant, fragrant emblem of anti-semitism." He explained that the act was offensive to the entire Emory University, not only to AEPi fraternity and the campus' Jewish community. "(The swastika's) appearance on our campus is an attack against everything for which Emory stands," Wagner wrote in the email. "Emory University will not tolerate such acts. Instead, we must together pledge Emory University's continuing commitment to raise awareness and prevent all forms of violence and discrimination; to foster openness and diversity of thought, experience, spirituality and culture; and to seek positive transformation in our community and the world."
AEPi already issued a statement to the university daily thanking the community for the support and pronounced their indignation against the offensive act calling it "an insensitive display of prejudice." " We are working alongside Emory to ensure that intolerable acts of hate, such as this, will never occur again," the AEPi statement reads.
Meanwhile, Omega Psi Phi, a predominantly African-American fraternity, released a statement in support of AEPi. It says " No one should have to be a victim of injustice and micro-aggressions simply for being who they are. This statement is not for likes, but to shine a light on the ignorance and hate that continues to plague Emory."
An Emory spokesperson told Business Insider that the Campus Life officials are coordinating with their student leaders to give support and decide on their next steps following the incident.
