IU Vandalism

Five BB gun bullet holes were found in a window on the first floor of Indiana University’s Hillel. The incidence is still under investigation as to whom is responsible for the crime. “Rabbi Susan Shifron showed a police officer five BB-sized holes in a window on the bottom floor of the building, said Capt. Jerry Minger, reading from a police report” (idsnews.com). As of now, the vandalism is anonymous but there is suspicion that an anti-Semite is responsible for this crime. There is a connection to other sources of vandalism such has graffiti on Indiana University’s Chabad house in the past year. I think that an anti-Semite is responsible for this vandalism because it occurred both at the universities Jewish centers. Also, there is a much lower Jewish population in Indiana than in other states such as areas of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, and Florida. Despite the fact that high populations of Jewish students are enrolled at the university, you would think that people would be open to other religions and backgrounds. I think whoever is responsible for this crime knew where and what they were aiming at. This ignorant hate crime illustrates ethnocentrism and close-mindedness to other religions and practices. This crime did not stir much attention on campus and probably would have caused much more of a commotion if it had happened in a classroom or a main building such as Balentine or the library. Nevertheless, it is fortunate that no one was injured and not much damage was caused during the event.