Simmons students were informed October 25 by the Office of The President of a “troubling incident” that had occurred overnight; the vandalism of a sukkah, a Jewish religious symbol on campus, is being investigated as a potential hate crime. The identity of the individual involved has not been determined, so it is unclear whether or not they are part of the Simmons community.
A sukkah is where Jewish people dwell and celebrate the holiday of Sukkot, serving as a space for prayer, eat and sleep. According to an October 28 statement by Simmons Hillel, “guests are welcomed and radical hospitality is a tradition of the holiday.” The sukkah had been spray painted with “Gaza liberation sukkah.”
President Wooten’s email to the student body emphasized that the act had no place in the Simmons community and was a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Those at fault could face consequences “including a written warning, probation, suspension, or even expulsion,” according to the email.
The act of vandalism comes after a spring semester of campus activism and protests amidst the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the unfurling of flags following May Day celebrations, a pro-Palestine walkout and the arrest of three Simmons students at Northeastern University’s Boston campus, where a pro-Palestine solidarity encampment had been set up.
Throughout the fall semester, Simmons has hosted a programming series to facilitate fruitful discussion surrounding antisemitism, Islamophobia and providing a broader context and history of the Middle East.
“As scholars, leaders, and advocates, we must be able to engage in civil and respectful dialogue, even – and especially – about issues where there are disagreements,” read President Wooten’s email. “As an academic institution, it is our responsibility to use our learning and leadership to build new pathways that further understanding.”
Simmons Hillel called the act “deplorable,” adding that such an act did not belong on a campus committed to learning, leadership and inclusion. The statement emphasized that the vandalism of the sukkah sent a clear message to Simmons Jewish students that “[they] are not welcome to openly celebrate and practice [their] customs.”
The statement emphasized Simmons’ motto of “when Simmons leads, the world works better.” Hillel challenged this statement, arguing “the world does not ‘work better’ when antisemitism is rampant in higher education.”
The Simmons chapter of Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP) said in an Instagram statement that the vandalism was not an act of antisemitism, saying that Gaza Solidarity Sukkahs nationwide have been put up and maintained by anti-Zionist Jewish students.
JVP called President Wooten’s email “hypocritical,” saying nothing had been said or done by the University after “Get Hamas out of Simmons. We do not tolerate terrorists, baby killers, Nazis,” was written in a bathroom stall of the School of Management in December 2023.
They added that the pro-Palestine movement had been “conflated” with the use of that language, continuing with “conflating a country that is committing genocide with Judaism is painful for those of us affected by the Holocaust, uses Judaism as a shield for said country and confuses the real definition of antisemitism.”
Merriam-Webster defines “zionism” as “an international movement originally for the establishment of a Jewish national or religious community in Palestine and later for the support of modern Israel,” and defines “antisemitism” as “hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.”
An October 31 statement by President Wooten further condemned the act, saying “we are committed to holding those responsible accountable for their actions. The safety and well-being of our community is our top priority. Speech or behavior that is threatening, harassing, or intimidating are not protected forms of expression and will not be tolerated.”
Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Paul Lombardo did not reply to the Voice’s request for comment.
UPDATE: November 1, 2024
Following the publication of this piece, Simmons Jewish Voices for Peace deleted the previously linked Instagram statement. If there are further developments, we will update this piece and our social media accordingly.
UPDATE: November 4, 2024
The Instagram statement published by Simmons Jewish Voices for Peace now appears on the account, and has been relinked in this story.
In addition, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Paul Lombardo has informed the Voice that Public Safety is unable to comment on active investigations.
If there are further developments to this story, we will update this piece and our social media accordingly.
