After swastikas were painted on the Alpha Epsilon Pi Jewish fraternity house at UC Davis, Simon Wiesenthal Center Campus Outreach DirectorRabbi Aron Hier was in
touch with UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi who calledthe behavior “repugnant and a gross violation of the values our university holds dear. Nothing rivals a swastika as a more potent or offensive symbol of hatred and violence toward our Jewishcommunity members.”
Photo: (L-R) Rabbi Meyer May, UC Chief of Staff Seth Grossman and Rabbi AronHier
Following the desecration, Rabbi Aron Hier was immediately in communication with Chancellor Linda Katehi, UC Davis provost Ralph Hexter, pastUC President Mark Yudof, and current Chief of Staff for the University of California system Seth Grossman, pictured at a meeting with Simon Wiesenthal Center Executive Director Rabbi Meyer H. Mayjust 48 hours after the incident occurred.
“We commend Linda Katehi for her statement condemning this act of anti-Semitism and for her longstanding commitment to fighting anti-Semitismand campus unrest,” said Rabbi Hier adding, “she is a model in dealing with these issues and other chancellors should follow her lead”.
Rabbi Aron Hier urged a full investigation into the matter, called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. Additionally, RabbiMeyer May suggested that UC Davis and other campuses should adopt the US State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism.
As a follow up, Rabbi Hier will be meeting with UC Regent Sherry Lansing to discuss ongoing Jewish issues on campus.
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The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in theUnited States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).
