Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Yesterday afternoon, a hateful act of antisemitism occurred on the edge of the Carleton campus. I write to share our outrage at this incident and to let you know what follow-up is taking place.
As campus tours led by student staff from the Office of Admissions were passing near the Weitz Center on Monday afternoon, a passenger in a vehicle traveling on Third Street was observed and heard yelling antisemitic terms toward the groups. As you can imagine, this was a difficult encounter for those participating in the tours, and a painful experience to hear about for others within our community.
The incident was reported to Security Services and to the Northfield Police, and a review of security camera footage at the intersection of Second and College Streets is being conducted to attempt to identify the vehicle. If identifying information can be gained, it will be provided to the Northfield Police for further action.
Students who might benefit from support in processing this experience are encouraged to reach out to the Chaplain’s Office or to Student Health and Counseling.
Sadly, this incident, while unusual in our community, occurs at a time when antisemitic behavior has been on the rise across the country, with the Anti-Defamation League reporting in 2022 that 2021 was the highest year on record for documented reports of harassment, vandalism, and violence directed against Jews.
While we cannot erase the pain caused by this incident, we as a community can affirm our support of Carleton’s Jewish students, faculty, and staff, and our commitment to stand against antisemitic language and actions whenever and wherever we see them occur.
President Alison Byerly