Officials at the University of Buffalo are investigating after racist, offensive graffiti was found scrawled on a stall in a residence hall restroom last week.
The vandalism, discovered in Knox Hall on the school’s North Campus in Amherst, New York, included slurs against African-Americans as well anti-Semitic and homophobic language/symbols, local station WGRZ reported.
“Racist and discriminatory behaviors [and] conduct have no place at the University at Buffalo, and will not be tolerated,” the university said in a statement. “Whenever acts motivated by hatred or discrimination occur, the university will respond promptly to protect the safety and well-being of the entire university community.”
“Diversity, inclusion and mutual respect are strongly held values of our university,” it added. “We are committed to upholding these values at all times.”
The graffiti was removed by campus facilities crews after it was reported. UB officials said it’s unclear when the incident occurred.
University officials said it’s unclear when the racist graffiti was posted. (Photo: Brenton Blanchet, The Spectrum Editor in Chief )
The vandalism also drew a response from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who called on the State Police Hate Crime Task Force to assist in the university’s investigation. The report comes on the heels of similar incidents at Syracuse University, which saw nearly a dozen reported bias-related incidents in the span of a week.
In once case, an African-American student said she was harassed and called the N-word by a group of frat members as she waited for a bus. That incident, and several others, led Syracuse to suspend all fraternity activities for the remainder of the year. The offending students were also suspended.
“In New York, there is no place for hate,” Cuomo said in a statement. “And we will continue to rise up and condemn every cowardly act, anywhere it appears that targets and threatens people because of their race, religion or sexual orientation.”
UB officials said the incident appears to be random that it is “not indicative of who we are as a university community.”
“This appears to be an isolated incident,” said Satish K. Tripathi, president of the university. “Regardless, together we must seek to cultivate and nurture an environment where racism, intolerance and hatred are rendered extinct.”
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