A month after swastikas appeared on the walls of Mary Markley residence hall, University Housing apologized this week for its initial response to the incident.
On Sept. 9, a letter was sent to Markley residents by Coordinator for Residence Education T. Rose Roane and 21st Century Program Director Marita Inglehart in response to the vandalism.
William Zeller, director of University Housing, sent a second letter this week to Markley residents, labeling some language in the first letter as "inappropriate."
"We want to express our deep regret for the inappropriate language used in that letter," Zeller wrote. "In our efforts to respond quickly to the writing of swastikas in the hall, the letter had language and a quotation which should not have been included."
The quotation Zeller referred to was from the "Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets," and described the origins of the word "swastika."
"The swastika did not originate as a Nazi symbol of hatred. Swastika is derived from the sanskrit word: swastikah, which means, 'being fortunate,'" the first letter stated.
The first letter drew criticism from Markley residents and students on campus. Students held a forum shortly after the letter was received to discuss both the incident and the letter. LSA junior David Caroline chair of Hillel's governing board and LSA senior Barry Rosenberg, both Michigan Student Assembly representatives, met with Housing officials, including Zeller, to request a letter of apology to Markley residents.
"I found the (first) letter to be inappropriate, as did a number of people of all races and religions," Rosenberg said.
In the apology letter, Zeller affirmed that the University opposes the swastika and views it as a symbol of Nazi atrocities and hate crimes.
"We want to emphasize our outrage at the drawing of the swastika within the community," Zeller's letter stated. "We view these incidents as an offense against every member of the University community. There is no ambiguity that the swastika is the symbol of Nazi atrocities and hate crimes and the preeminent graphic representation of anti-semitism."
Rosenberg said he felt the second letter tempered his original reactions to the incident.
"I appreciate that the University recognized the mistakes in the first letter and made an honest, good faith and successful effort to fix them," Rosenberg said. "We're affirming the community values that we will not tolerate racism, vandalism and anti-semitism."
Some Markley residents said Housing correctly fixed the mistakes of the first letter, but that it took too long.
"I wish the second letter had been sent out earlier," said LSA first-year student Monique Gifford. "But at least it showed that they were taking it seriously. The quote at the bottom of the first letter trivialized the issue of how detrimental the swastika is in racial acts."
Other students were grateful that Housing kept all students informed in the weeks after the incident.
"We got letters in our mailbox," said LSA first-year student Paul Burani. "Housing dealt with it thoroughly. I wouldn't have known about it if they hadn't set the letters."
Caroline said the way Housing eventually resolved the situation should set an example for the future.
"I'd really like to commend the University for having the courage to apologize," Caroline said. "It should set an example for the University."
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