Update 13/02/2017: Since publication, further reports of swastikas being found on campus have come from students at the University of Exeter and University College London.
Student Rights has learnt from a number of students at the University of Cambridge that a spate of anti-Semitic incidents have been reported at the prestigious university.
According to the student newspaper, Varsity, two swastika symbols were drawn on a ‘You are here’ map on Jesus Green.
On Sunday 5th February, Varsity also reported that a number of flyers supporting the Holocaust denier, David Irving, were discovered at the university’s Sidgwick Site.
Centre of Social Asian Studies Research Fellow, Dr Edward Anderson, shared a photo of the flyer on Twitter, saying: “Someone has gone around the Sidgwick Site @Cambridge_Uni putting holocaust denial flyers under every windshield. Worrying. #Antisemitism”.
This activity coincides with the release of Denial, based on Deborah Lipstadt’s book ‘History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier’, and the flyers reference the film.
Adam Goott, Co-President of the Cambridge University Jewish Society, posted on Facebook:
“Jews do not rule the world. We do not control everything. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing since the Holocaust.
Anti-Semitism still exists, still has the ability to harm, and must still remain a concern, alongside all other forms of racism, which are rearing their ugly heads more than ever today.”
The Jewish Society told Varsity that they have been in touch with the Community Security Trust (CST), which protects British Jews from anti-Semitism.
They added that they were “deeply concerned by the recent escalation in the number of anti-Semitic incidents and the Cambridge University Jewish Society (CUJS) will be in touch with the relevant authorities.”
Only last week, the CST reported a record rise in the number of anti-Semitic incidents were at a record high.
Here at Student Rights, we condemn these incidents and support those trying to investigate who is behind them.
Racism has no place on campus and we urge the university authorities to take these reports seriously and discipline the perpetrators if they are students.
While there is no evidence these incidents are part of a coordinated campaign, it is important students in Cambridge remain vigilant and report any such incidents.