Incident at Wellesley College
President Stephens expresses our support of the Jewish community after a symbol resembling a swastika was found on the Wellesley campus.
October 16, 2020
Dear members of the 欧美AV community,
We learned today that our friends and colleagues at Wellesley College discovered a symbol resembling a swastika on their campus last night.
to the Wellesley community acknowledges and condemns the harm provoked by this symbol of anti-Semitism. We join her in that condemnation, and in support of the Jewish community at Wellesley, 欧美AV, and everywhere. As at Wellesley, hate and its symbols have no place on our campus or in our community. Should you see or experience these at 欧美AV, you should inform Public Safety and Service or report them through our anti-bias response process immediately. The symbol found at Wellesley was also described by President Johnson and national experts as possibly resembling the ancient version of the swastika. Despite its loathsome association with Nazism, this symbol dates back thousands of years and has been used for different purposes, and with a range of positive symbolic meanings in many civilizations and religions.
As the Hindu community prepares to celebrate Navaratri tomorrow and through October 26th, please remember that the swastika can also symbolize wellbeing and good fortune, as well as purity and peace.
Tonight, we express our solidarity with our Jewish community observing Shabbat and wish all those celebrating Navaratri a joyous festival, marking the triumph of good over evil.
Sincerely,
Sonya