Pattern of Anti-Semitic Graffiti Being Addressed at Miami U
OXFORD, OH – Over the weekend before Thanksgiving, someone drew antisemitic comment on a resident’s door in Tappan Hall at Miami University. More graffiti — another antisemitic comment and the N-word — was found in the communal bathroom. It wasn’t the first time this semester. Back in late September, a Jewish student in Morris Hall discovered a swastika drawn on her whiteboard.
In both cases, the incidents reported. In both cases, the university responded quickly, involving campus police, Title IX, Title VI & Hazing Prevention Coordinator, and senior leadership.
These incidents at Miami come at a time when antisemitic vandalism has been rising nationally. The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Audit of Antisemitic Incidents 2024 documented a significant increase in swastika graffiti on college campuses, including cases on dorm room doors, whiteboards, and common areas. The ADL noted that many of these incidents involve students reproducing symbols and imagery circulating in far-right online spaces, where antisemitic memes and hate symbols have become more prevalent.
Miami Hillel and Chabad have both reacted. Hillel Director Sarah Shmoel said, “We have a responsibility to name antisemitism when it becomes a pattern. We’re grateful for Miami University’s partnership with the Jewish community and for taking these incidents seriously. We are committed to supporting our students in every way.” Hillel hosted a webinar on Friday, December 5, where the university said they will be going residence hall by residence hall to conduct Title VI training, which will be mandatory for all residents.
Chabad’s Rabbi Yossi Greenberg emphasized that while the incidents are real, they do not define the campus. “If some knucklehead did something,” he told me, “that doesn’t change the dynamic of the community. Twelve years on this campus have taught me to appreciate the hard work Miami puts in to make campus a true place of love and honor.” Rabbi Greenberg noted that his students remain in good spirits and had a wonderful time at their Hanukkah party this weekend.
But sixteen months after October 7, a quieter reality has taken hold. Students in both Cincinnati and at Miami told me that after so many early complaints were brushed aside or reinterpreted, there’s now a real hesitancy to report anything at all. Some worry they’ll be dismissed; others worry they’ll be noticed.
It’s a dynamic local Jewish leaders are watching closely. As Danielle Minson, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, explained, when a case is reported, “we log it, bring in SAFE Cincinnati and law enforcement, and push for quick removal and follow-up. We treat it as more than graffiti — and we make it clear our community will not shrug it off.”
Miami University officials have been delivering the same message: Miami’s Dean of Students, BaShaun Smith, addressed the campus in an email after the incident occured. “This deplorable behavior is a direct contradiction of our values and the welcoming community we strive to be at Miami. We unequivocally condemn these acts of hate.,” he wrote. “Please be aware that if you are responsible for writing these hateful messages, we are committed to investigating fully and utilizing every resource available to hold you accountable under the university’s conduct policies.”
And this is the uncomfortable truth: these incidents happened on a dorm room door and in a communal bathroom — places where no parent wants cameras and no administrator should be hovering. The only people who can bring these cases to light are the ones living in those halls. Reporting isn’t about surveillance. It’s the only tool left in a space where privacy matters and hate can hide in plain sight.
If you’re a Miami student who has seen something, experienced something, or knows who is responsible, the university directs reports to the Title IX, Title VI & Hazing Prevention Coordinator, the Dean of Students, or campus police. Community members can also report incidents through SAFE Cincinnati or the Jewish Federation’s system.
