"It is upsetting, naturally, for any Jewish student and I think any student on campus it is an upsetting and disappointing feeling," said former student Daniel Weber.
On November 30, that same year, Mark Zacharias, threw a rock through the glass of Goodbody Hall's directory. Goodbody Hall is where the offices of the university's most culturally diverse professors are located. Zacharias pleaded guilty to criminal mischief March 27, 2012. He was sentenced to 40 hours of community service.
Shortly after Zacharias was arrested, the university installed new technology on the third floor of Goodbody Hall. That new technology helped police identify the two juveniles less than one day after the alleged vandalism happened.
"We take it very seriously, we do not like it here, which is why we used so many resources here just to solve it," said IU Police Chief Keith Cash. "I am glad we did."
Why would two kids put a swastika and write 'Hitler' on a Jewish poster on IU's campus? That is the question university officials and the campus' Jewish leaders, like Rabbi Sue Silberberg, are now trying to answer.
"I think it is people who do not understand, I hope, who are out looking to cause some trouble," said Silberberg. "I hope they do not know the meaning of what they are doing. If they do know the meaning then it is scary."
Jewish Studies Program Director Jeffrey Veidlinger said it is up to the community to help educate others, but the message is clear: this type of behavior is not welcome.
"I think the best thing that we can do is shine a light on it and let people know it is out there and that it is unacceptable and the community is not going to tolerate it and we do not tolerate it," said Veidlinger.
Chief Cash said university police will continue working with the parents of the two juveniles to set up times to conduct interviews and try to figure out a motive for the act of vandalism. Once they are complete, their findings will be forwarded to the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office.
