A Jewish fraternity at Temple University in Philadelphia has been vandalized multiple times by anti-Israel individuals who damaged property and left anti-Semitic messages behind.
There were two trespassing incidents against the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity in May and one in late July, according to The Jerusalem Post. During the July incident, a group of vandals reportedly trespassed onto the fraternity’s roof and urinated into a door on the rooftop.
During another occurrence, vandals spray-painted the phrase, “Free Palestine,” onto the Jewish fraternity’s roof.
“AEPi identifies as a Jewish fraternity and there was evidence the incidents were motivated by antisemitism,” Temple President Richard Englert and Senior Vice President and Provost Gregory Mandel said in an Aug. 2 message to the university community.
“As the police continue to pursue all leads, Temple’s Division of Student Affairs is also actively investigating these recent incidents,” the officials continued. “If students are found to be involved, they will be subject to disciplinary action under the Student Conduct Code. This would be in addition to any criminal charges filed against students and non-students.”
On Aug. 12, the university posted another update to the situation, stating that it had obtained arrest warrants for two individuals connected to the anti-Semitic vandalism.
“The approved felony charges are in connection with incidents that occurred on May 24 and July 27, 2024, at an off-campus row home that houses several Temple student members of AEPi, a national fraternity,” Englert and Mandel stated. “We are grateful to the [Temple University Police Department] detectives and police officers and the District Attorney’s Office for their continued efforts to keep the Temple community safe.”
Campus Reform reported earlier this year that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights began investigating Temple over its alleged anti-Semitism. The complaint that launched the investigation was initially filed by Campus Reform Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Zachary Marschall.
“I am writing to you as a journalist who has spoken to numerous Jewish students across this country to afraid to speak up,” Marschall wrote in his complaint against the school. “I’m choosing to speak up for them because the University takes no action to protect them.”
Reportedly, members of Temple’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter chanted
“Intifada revolution,” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and “Gaza, Gaza you will rise, Palestine will never die” in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks against Israel.
Campus Reform has contacted Temple University and the Philadelphia Police Department for comment. This article will be updated accordingly.