A student at Queen’s University is calling for greater institutional action after encountering an act they perceive as antisemitic in their residence earlier in December.
Upon returning to their residence, the first-year student discovered the phrase “Free Palestine” written on their blank nameplate—a space typically reserved for personal pronouns and fun facts—outside their dorm room in Leggett Hall.
“It’s not just the ‘Free Palestine’ message, it’s the fact that someone made the connection between the Mezuzah on my door and chose to target my room, specifically because I’m a Jewish student. I felt like it was a very targeted attack,” the student said in an interview with The Journal.
A Mezuzah is a small box mounted on the right doorpost of Jewish homes. The box contains a scroll with Torah verses and holds spiritual and cultural significance.
The student expressed significant safety concerns, highlighting the fear that arose from the anonymity of the act. “It’s threatening because, you know, it’s the fear that I know where you are, but I’m not going to show my face. I know where you live, and I could always come to your door. That’s really where the fear stems from,” the student said.
Frustrations extended to what the student perceived as inadequate long-term solutions and the limitations of existing security measures in residences. They mentioned that, despite the installation of cameras in Leggett Hall following a similar incident last year—in which a Mezuzah was removed and damaged from the doorpost of a Jewish student—the measures appeared inadequate in preventing further acts of antisemitism or ensuring accountability.
This incident is one of many on campus targeting both Jewish and Palestinian students, particularly following the events of Oct. 7.
Upon discovering the written message, the student reached out to Campus Security and sought support from Hillel Queen’s, a Jewish campus organization. They also met with Residence Life staff to discuss the incident and the broader issue of campus safety.
In a statement to The Journal, Residence Life executive Allen Wu reaffirmed the department’s commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all students. “We condemn all forms of hate, including antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab sentiments. We remain committed to combating discrimination through education and advocacy,” Wu said.
The University echoed this sentiment, emphasizing its commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. “All reports are promptly reviewed, and where possible, evidence is gathered to identify individuals responsible. A range of sanctions may be applied to those found responsible, including removal from residence,” the University stated in a response to The Journal.
In the wake of the incident, the student has found solace in being part of the Jewish community on campus, where they feel safe and respected. They believe that being in such an environment has been crucial in helping them navigate this difficult time.
The student explained that growing up, they lived in a Jewish community bubble, surrounded by Jewish schools, camps, and activities, with little exposure to the outside world. While their experience at Queen’s has been mostly positive, this incident made them feel compelled to retreat into that bubble.
“When something happens to me and other Jewish people, we kind of assimilate to ourselves, but then when we go and spread out go out, we get screwed,” the student said in an interview with The Journal.
The student remains hopeful that their story will prompt the University to take more decisive action. “This isn’t what I expected when I moved into residence. Queen’s needs to create a community where everyone feels safe and supported and that means addressing antisemitism head-on.”
Tags
Antisemitism, leggett hall, ResSoc, University
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