[color="Blue"](What an amazing coincidence, itz.)

http://www.ithaca.edu/ithacan/articles/0610/05/news/2public_sa.htm

Public Safety and Emerson residents respond to resurging hate graffiti

Max Steinmetz/The Ithacan

By Mallory Diamond / Contributing Writer

October 05, 2006

At first glance, Emerson Hall looks just like any other campus dorm — white concrete walls, vending machines and dorm-room doors decorated with magazine pictures. But last month, it became the first dorm on campus this year to have its halls defaced with swastikas and racist graffiti.

On Sept. 4, Public Safety reported that swastikas were found drawn in permanent black marker on a bulletin board in Emerson. More swastikas appeared on stairwells and elevators Sept. 9, and again on Sept. 27 and 30, according to Courtney Bazan, residence director of Emerson Hall. Bazan said in the Sept. 30 case, the words “white power” were written on a vending machine in the Emerson laundry room. The Office of Public Safety said the graffiti incidents are not being classified as hate crimes.

Bazan said the swastikas were blatant.

[highlight]“We had three in the elevator, and walking in there, I wanted to absolutely throw up when I saw them,” she said.[/highlight] “They’re not things that we take lightly.”

Last October, a student in Emerson Hall also reported a swastika drawn on a bulletin board, according to the Office of Public Safety. That incident was not labeled as a hate crime. In 2004, there were 35 reported cases of graffiti on the campus, according to Public Safety. In 2005, that number rose to 44 reported cases.

Bazan said that when graffiti is reported, it is documented within an hour and removed by a Public Safety officer. The locations where graffiti was reported now only show faint scuff-marks on walls.

“It’s definitely on our radar,” Bazan said. “This is Ithaca. This is a very diverse community and we expect that here in [Residential Life], and so we’re concerned by it … to put swastikas on bulletin boards and in elevators, what is that saying? Really look at the message that’s being sent. It should be offensive to everyone.”

Public Safety Investigator Thomas Dunn said that, sadly, many reported graffiti cases are hard to solve.

Dunn said that “making graffiti” is not listed under the specified offenses of hate crimes under New York state law.

“What we call it is a quality-of-life crime,” Dunn said. “It affects the quality-of-life of the people who live there, and that’s why we hate these things.”

As part of the counter-response to the spread of graffiti in Emerson, resident assistants distributed informative letters door-to-door. One RA’s letter emphasized that the hateful acts will not be tolerated and urged students to “work together to erase the hate.”

Junior Dan Cassavaugh, an RA in Emerson, has worked with other RAs in the building to organize informational floor meetings. On Monday night, about 50 third-floor residents met to discuss the recurring graffiti.

“There [are] only six RAs in the building and one residence director, so it’s very difficult for us to keep track of everything that goes on at all times,” Cassavaugh said to his residents. “This past Friday there were five [swastikas] found in the building — three on our floor and two in the laundry room … . That’s obviously unacceptable behavior.”

Cassavaugh said that he will be doing more frequent rounds in Emerson and keeping his eyes and ears open for any violations. While he urged the residents of Emerson to do the same, he said there have been instances of graffiti left untouched and unreported for days.

“It can’t be left up for that extended period of time,” he said.

[highlight]Freshman Dan Koz, a resident in Emerson, said he discovered one of the swastikas on a trip to the vending machines.

“I’ve seen them before. It’s not something foreign to me,” Koz said. “But I am Jewish. That kind of ideology offends me ... . I don’t like Nazi ideals.” Koz said instead of “getting worked up” over the graffiti, he finds it more effective not to pay too much attention to it.

“If you have one person who’s drawing all over a dorm and everyone in the dorm is in shambles, and their personal lives are messed up over it … that’s a terrible shame,” Koz said. “And somebody can do that with a marker.”[/highlight]