[dropcap size=big]A[/dropcap]nti-Semitic and racist messages, and threats scrawled in black marker in the bathroom of a building at California State University Northridge on Wednesday prompted campus police to boost patrols.
But the university president Thursday described a mass shooting threat as not “credible.” She said classes will not be cancelled and finals will go on. Campus police are still investigating the graffiti found in a bathroom of Sierra Hall and on the walls of several academic buildings.
The graffiti was reported at 4:45 p.m. inside a men’s restroom on the third floor of Sierra Hall. The messages and symbols were written in four or five locations in the bathroom, said CSUN Police Capt. Alfredo Fernandez.
That’s where the school’s psychology department is located. It’s also where many of the school’s ethnic studies classes are located, as well as the college of humanities.
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Sierra Hall houses the College of Humanities which is the most diverse college on campus. The college comprises disciplines such as Asian, Central American/Indian, Chicano, Gender, Queer, Religious, Jewish, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.
— Libertarian Socialist Collective 🏴🚩 (@libertarianlsc) December 6, 2018
“CSUN Police is vigorously investigating a threat of a mass shooting and other hate-filled language and symbols written on the walls of several academic buildings,” said University President Dianne F. Harrison in a statement released early Thursday on the school’s website.
One of the messages, written in black marker, states: “Mass shooting in Sierra Hall 12/12/18,” with a small swastika drawn below it. Another included the N-word and a phrase targeting Jewish people.
“Based on a threat assessment and current circumstances, classes remain in session, and finals will continue as planned,” Harrison said.
CSUN is aware of the hateful and offensive graffiti in Sierra Hall. CSUN Police are investigating this use of hateful language and symbols and threat against our community. We are working to remove this graffiti immediately. CSUN condemns this in the strongest possible terms.
— Cal State Northridge (@csunorthridge) December 6, 2018
Similar graffiti was reportedly found in a bathroom at Sierra Hall on Nov. 30. Police increased patrols around campus Thursday.
“Late last week, we had similar hate language in this same building,” said CSUN Chief of Police Anne Glavin. “I want our community to know that police services is investigating, and we have stepped up patrols on campus.”
While some CSUN students expressed frustration with the way campus police are handling the situation, others pointed out it could be a prank, as December 12, the date of threatened mass shooting is also the first day of finals at the university.
“You can’t ignore the gravity of the situation, but I can’t help but think that some idiot has a final that they don’t want to take and thought this was a clever idea. Nevertheless keep the students safe, get the FBI involved, and hold off on finals until an arrest is made,” said Ryan King, according to a report by SCVNews.
Last week, swastikas defaced a famed mural in a South Los Angeles neighborhood, which rattled residents there. The community came together quickly and the mural on Crenshaw, Our Mighty Contribution, was restored. The LAPD is investigating that incident as a hate crime, authorities said.
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