Anti-Semitic signs cause concern

Students, administrators and staff members reacted strongly yesterday to the rash of anti-Semitic incidents which have been occurring in Community House, a section of the Quadrangle. Over the last six weeks, two signs saying "The Jewish God Eats Human Shit," and three swastikas have appeared on a fire door on the first floor of Cleemann. Nursing freshman Bonnie Sherman, who discovered four of the five incidents, said the occurrences have been "nauseating." "I am speechless and deeply hurt," she said. "I thought the environment here was accepting and I'm realizing that it's not." Sherman's hallmate, College freshman David Siegel, said he thinks the incidents are disturbing. "It's unfortunately impossible to stop anti-Semitism," he said. "What we must always strive for is to build Judaism." Siegel's roommate, College freshman Nick Merkin, agreed, saying that he is not worried about revenge because "the best revenge is to lead Jewish lives." Wharton senior Dave Schlosser, the residential advisor on duty during yesterday morning's most recent incident, said he is "disgusted and offended." "You should be able to feel safe where you live and [the hall's residents] can't," he added. Wharton freshman Fred Yee said it is disturbing that the perpetrators "are scared to reveal themselves." "I find it really appalling that people would bring this into the residences," added Yee, also a resident of the hall. "There exists a growing tendency towards the condoning of such actions and comments concerning anti-Semitism," said Engineering junior Marc Johnson, chairperson of the Hillel Executive Va'ad, Hillel's student government. "This amounts to nothing more than racism regardless of the source or nature of the action or behavior." Sherman said the lack of previous public discussion about the incidents is unfortunate. "We have to speak about it," she said. "I am a firm believer that if people had stood up during the Holocaust, it never would have happened for as long as it did." Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said she is "outraged that students would do something like this." And Penn Hillel Director Jeremy Brochin said the "harassing, anti-Semitic behavior should not be tolerated under any circumstances."