Swastika, homophobic slurs found scrawled in Santa Clara Univ. dorm in blood

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ByChris Nguyen KGO logo
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Swastika, homophobic slur found scrawled in Santa Clara Univ. dorm in blood
The community is outraged over hateful slurs and symbols in the Casa Italiana residence hall of Santa Clara University.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KGO) -- There is shock and anger on the campus of Santa Clara University after hateful vandalism was found inside a residence hall.

The way the crime was carried out has students and staff especially troubled.

For many on the Santa Clara University campus, feelings of disbelief and disappointment are prominent.

"It's just a scary thing to think that the people you live with, so close, can feel such harsh feelings about your community," said Santa Clara University student Katie Golding.

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Students were stunned by leaked surveillance video that was shot last week at the Casa Italiana residence hall.

The university says two students, who have since been identified, used their blood to draw a swastika on a poster inside an elevator.

"The idea of even like, drawing a swastika, I don't know who thinks of that as a joke, or funny," said student Kayla Goldsmid. "I just think, It's so offensive to people."

Homophobic and transphobic slurs were also found inside the building.

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"I was really disgusted by thinking that people at Santa Clara would do something like that," Goldsmid said. "And my brother is gay, and the homophobic thing really hit home."

Students and staff were notified by officials earlier this week in a letter to the campus community by SCU President Father Michael Engh:

"I know that you will not allow the individual, or individuals who have defaced our facilities and shamed our school to think that we at Santa Clara will tolerate such actions."

The Santa Clara Police Department is investigating the incident and the university will be holding a conduct hearing to determine any appropriate sanctions.

"You don't think anybody in this day and age would do something like that," said Golding. "It's very sad."

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