A “Welcome” sign from the University of Oregon Hillel was vandalized with cuss-laden graffiti on July 6.
The sign originally stated “Welcome” in both English and Hebrew; black marker was used to write “Free Palestine you f*cks.” Also written in black marker was something that resembled, “F*ck your high horse.”
In a Facebook post, the Oregon Hillel Foundation wrote that they were “shocked and saddened” by the vandalism and that they took the sign off the premises to clean off the marker.
“We greatly appreciate the immediate support of President [Michael] Schill, the Dean of Students Office and the Office of Equity and Inclusion,” Oregon Hillel wrote. “All have voiced their concern and support for our community and offered their resources.”
The post also included a statement from University of Oregon Division of Student Life Vice President Kevin Marbury condemning the vandalism.
“Anti-Semitism and other forms of hate have no place at the University of Oregon. We condemn this as an unacceptable violation our university values,” Marbury said. “The UO Police Department has taken the initial report and is working with Eugene PD to further investigate. To the extent we are able, we will share additional information as it becomes available.”
At the end of May, University of Oregon’s student government passed a resolution calling on the university to divest funding from companies that do business with Israel. Shill denounced the resolution as not being “welcoming and inclusive.”
Despite all this, the Oregon Hillel Foundation is pressing on.
“Despite hate we celebrate light by lighting the Shabbat candles with our community around the world,” they wrote.
