Dr. Steven Knapp President 2122 I Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20052 Dear President Knapp, We are 19 Jewish and civil rights organizations representing hundred of thousands of supporters who are concerned for the safety and well-being of Jewish students on your campus. As you know, during the last week in February three swastikas were drawn inside International House, a dorm housing sororities and fraternities, three of which are historically Jewish. We are troubled by the University’s response, and join Jewish student leaders on your campus who are calling for the University to better address incidents of campus antisemitism. According to reports about the swastikas that appeared in The GW Hatchet and Washington Post, the University: Did not formally acknowledge the swastikas until a meeting with students four days after the initial report was filed. Did not take the issue seriously as students felt compelled to ask their parents to call the university on their behalf in order for the university to take action. Referred to the swastikas as “offensive drawings” but did not publicly acknowledge that a swastika is an antisemitic symbol associated with genocide perpetrated against the Jewish people, and that it particularly targets members of the Jewish community for hatred and discrimination. Is not investigating the incident as a hate crime. May not have adequately trained security personnel to recognize antisemitism and hate crimes, and to appropriately respond to Jewish student concerns. Jewish student leaders have called on the University to issue a formal apology for not addressing Jewish student concerns about the swastikas in a forthright manner, and asked that campus police officers be better trained in diversity and hate crimes. (more…)