Anti-Semitic graffiti found near Georgetown University Jewish meeting space

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Officials at Georgetown University say anti-Semitic graffiti has been found in a restroom near a campus Jewish meeting space.

In a letter to the campus community on Monday, officials said the graffiti was found Sunday night in a restroom adjacent to the Makom Jewish Gathering Space at the Catholic university. Campus officials did not describe the graffiti.

In the letter Interim Vice President for Mission and Ministry Rev. Howard Gray and Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson "strongly condemn this act of hate" and say the university is committed to fostering a community that's "welcoming to people of all faiths and that values diversity, inclusion and respect."

Campus police are investigating the incident, increasing patrols and coordinating with the Metropolitan Police Department.

Rev. Howard Gray, interim vice president for mission and ministry, and Todd Olson, vice president for student affairs, wrote in a message to the campus community:

Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community,

We write to inform you of the recent report of a bias-related incident on campus. Anti-Semitic graffiti was found last night in the public restroom adjacent to the Makom Jewish Gathering Space, located in the north-side of the Leavey Center.

We strongly condemn this act of hate. As a Catholic and Jesuit university, we are committed to fostering a community that is welcoming to people of all faiths and that values diversity, inclusion and respect. This act of anti-Semitism and hate is unacceptable, antithetical to what we stand for as a university, and has no place on our campus.

The Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) is investigating this incident, increasing patrols across campus, and coordinating with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). If you have any information about this incident, please report it to GUPD by calling 202-687-4343 or emailing police@georgetown.edu. You can report any bias-related incident through the Bias Reporting System at biasreporting.georgetown.edu.
As always, counseling and Campus Ministry staff members are available, and we encourage anyone who may be in need of these services to take advantage of them:

-- To schedule an appointment with CAPS (Counseling and Psychiatric Services), students may call (202) 687-6985 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. In the event of an urgent need after hours, call (202) 444-7243 and ask for the CAPS clinician on call.
-- The Office of Campus Ministry is available to all students during business hours by calling (202) 687-5259. In addition, chaplains in residence may be reached after hours by calling (202) 677-0361.
-- The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) can provide free confidential counseling and referral services to faculty, AAPs and staff. For more information, visit http://hr.georgetown.edu/fsap or call (202) 687-2396.

We stand with our Jewish community and any campus community that experiences acts of bias. Together we condemn acts of hate and celebrate our global community, which is made stronger by our religious, cultural and international diversity.

Doron Ezickson, the Washington D.C. regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement:

"ADL condemns this incident targeting the Jewish community at Georgetown and commends the University's active response to it. Georgetown University administration are working with campus police to ensure a thorough investigation of the incident. The disturbing uptick in anti-Semitic incidents occurring on college campuses across the nation has demonstrated a need for all students, faculty, and campus community members to stand together against this troubling trend of hate."