Campus Update

May 29, 2024

Dear all,

I was disheartened to learn of the graffiti painted on several buildings at Vassar yesterday in the early morning. As you may have seen, the director of campus safety sent a note to the community earlier today regarding the ongoing investigation into this incident. I have heard from members of the community who experienced the occurrence as intimidating and upsetting. Furthermore, I know the staff who had to scrub the buildings to clean off the graffiti, on a day when we are already very busy getting the campus ready for Reunion, were greatly burdened, and I am so thankful to all of them for their quick and capable work. Let me assure you that the safety of the campus is a top priority.

In the context of anti-Israel expressions on campus this spring as well as this most recent event of graffiti, I want to be clear that we will continue to actively support our Jewish and Zionist students, and all our students, as we navigate growing anti-Israel sentiment and the ongoing, devastating effects of the war in Gaza–including the ongoing deaths of innocent Palestinian civilians and the continued holding of hostages. We stand firmly against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and discrimination of all kinds–as they harm the community and our ability to engage and learn in a pluralistic society and limit our collective future.

Let us work together to create the world we want to see on this campus–free from harm and exclusion and bolstered by our shared humanity.

Elizabeth H. Bradley, President
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
@EHBVassar