A swastika was found inside a residence-hall elevator at Southern Oregon University (SOU) on May 15.
KDRV-TV reported the swastika was carved inside Shasta residence hall’s elevator; the university reported the incident to local police.
SOU President Linda Schott wrote in a May 16 letter to community members that she condemned the swastika and that the university will be installing cameras in residence halls in an effort to hold perpetrators of such vandalism accountable. Schott added the university will be holding events to discourage acts of hate.
“I assure you as president of this university and with all that I hold dear, that I denounce acts of bias and hatred and will not stop working to eliminate them from our campus,” Schott wrote. “I will remain vigilant, with your help, and look forward to keeping you informed of SOU’s progress.”
In February, a swastika was drawn inside an SOU residence hall as well as the “N” word written on a black student’s whiteboard. Students told News 10 that the swastika and racial slur were in Shasta residence hall, although the university did not confirm it.
Schott wrote on her personal Facebook page at the time that the university had been investigating the matter but has yet to determine who was behind the acts of hate.
“I assure you that these actions are being taken seriously and will not be tolerated,” she wrote.
