Antisemitic graffiti found on Northwestern campus; school officials searching for suspects
Vandalism took place on 2nd day of Passover, which university president says 'makes it all the more despicable'
EVANSTON, Ill. (WLS) -- Antisemitic graffiti has been cleaned up on Northwestern's campus.
It was reported about 4 a.m. Monday morning outside University Hall and Kresge Centennial Hall, which houses the school's Holocaust Educational Foundation in Evanston.
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The vandalism took place on the second day of Passover, which the university president says "makes it all the more despicable."
"Antisemitic acts cannot and will not be tolerated at Northwestern, nor will vandalism or other violations of our policies on displays, demonstrations or conduct," NU President Michael Schill said.
Only a few saw the graffiti, which was discovered early Monday and quickly removed.
"To see something at this scale on campus, close to home, where I walk to class most days, was really disheartening and troubling," Student President of Northwestern Hillel Sari Eisen said.
The school is working to identify the suspects.
"We are working systematically and utilizing camera footage, forensics and other methods to identify the individuals responsible for this vandalism. If these individuals are current Northwestern students, they will be immediately suspended and face full disciplinary proceedings under University policies, as well as criminal charges under the law," Schill said.
On the third day of Passover Tuesday, Northwestern University's Hillel hosted its Jewish students for lunch.
Unfortunately, one of the topics of conversation was the vandalism of the two campus buildings, which were spray-painted with antisemitic language and symbols.
"We're meant to be celebrating and thinking about stories of liberation from oppression. And to have something like this happen, it just felt like a particularly painful moment," said Michael Simon, with Northwestern Hillel.
Anyone with information is asked to call University Police at 847-491-3456.
Northwestern last week joined a growing list of colleges across the country to have its federal funding frozen by President Donald Trump's administration, as the government investigates alleged civil rights violations at universities across the country.
The White House said it's frozen around $790 million in federal funds for Northwestern, but did not elaborate on which grants are being affected or any further details about the funding freeze.
Northwestern has faced questions over its handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and how it policed antisemitism on campus.
University officials pointed to a report published last month on Northwestern's efforts to combat antisemitism, which claims there has been an 88% decrease in reports between November of 2023 and November of 2024.
