Swastika display causes a row

May 27, 2015 11:32 pm | Updated May 28, 2015 12:18 am IST - Washington:

When a “Jewish student” placed a souvenir Hindu swastika obtained on a trip to India on his residence hall’s bulletin board on March 16, it led to a suspension order for that student, and charges including breaking the law, disorderly conduct, and discrimination, with a possible suggestion of a law enforcement investigation into “hate crimes.”

Yet this week that suspension order was revoked and the student in question was reinstated to full status at GWU after an outcry by The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, and the Hindu American Foundation.

In March GWU President Steven Knapp wrote, “All of us were shocked several weeks ago by the discovery of swastikas in International House…The university has offered support and reassurance to students affected by this abhorrent act. Meanwhile, officers who have received anti-bias training have worked with our Office of Diversity and Inclusion in investigating the incident.”

When a second swastika was discovered on the bulletin board of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity Mr. Knapp said that officers of the University Police Department responded immediately, both removing the swastika and launching a new investigation, which included the Metropolitan Police Department.

Yet according to FIRE and HAF, the student intended to educate his friends and co-residents about the symbol’s origins, which he learned about during a spring break trip to India, particularly that “although the swastika was appropriated by Nazi Germany, it has an ancient history in many cultures as a symbol of good luck and success.”

“GWU may not ignore thousands of years of history and effectively forbid all uses of the swastika because it was used by Nazi Germany,” said FIRE Program Officer and attorney Ari Cohn. “It’s ironic that the charges against the student illustrate the very point he was trying to make in the first place—that context is important and there’s much to be learned about the history of the swastika.”

However there were prior incidents too before this one, with reports that GWU’s International House was also the target of an unidentified vandal who drew three swastikas on the walls.

This week HAF said that it applauded GWU’s decision to rescind its interim suspension issued against the student.

“The University’s actions reflect the facts of this case and the efforts by Hindu organizations to educate campus officials about the sacredness of the Hindu swastika,” said Harsh Voruganti, Esq., HAF Associate Director of Public Policy, who testified on behalf of the student at the disciplinary hearing.

“We hope to continue to work with the University and student groups to provide resources on the swastika and to further the dialogue,” he added.

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