St. Thomas Public Safety is investigating after two swastikas, drawn in pencil, were found on June 21 in Flynn Hall. The drawings were discovered on stairwell walls on two separate floors.

Public Safety Director Dan Meuwissen said he would like the community’s help in finding the suspect. He hopes that the proper actions can be taken.

“Hate speech is just not tolerated on our campus,” Meuwissen said.

Flynn Hall is currently housing all 200 students living on campus during the summer months. Those students were notified via email about the property damage.

Hayley Graffunder, a St. Thomas junior and Flynn Hall resident, was disappointed with Public Safety’s response to the incident and fearful of the hateful message that was drawn in the building.

“I was shocked that I was reading about it that way,” Graffunder said. “I was devastated, frankly I was scared.”

Graffunder said she hopes Public Safety becomes more transparent and increases their use of the alert system.

With incidents involving hate speech on the rise across the U.S., Meuwissen said Public Safety is doing its best to handle hate speech on campus.

“We are dealing with a whole new climate,” Meuwissen said. “Not only on our campus, but nationwide.”

Meuwissen emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, and that those responsible for hate speech on campus must be held accountable.

Benton Johnson can be reached at bcjohnson@stthomas.edu.