The headquarters of Phi Sigma Delta, a University of Syracuse fraternity with a membership primarily Jewish, was badly damaged, and swastikas and obscenities were carved into furniture, the Syracuse police department reported here today. The city authorities as well as university guards announced at the same time that they have increased their efforts to trace the perpetrators of the attack on the fraternity house, which had occurred early Monday morning while the student residents were absent.
Robert Flaherty, chief of the university police, estimated the damage at about $2,000. The vandals had mutilated furniture and rugs in addition to inscribing the Nazi symbol and anti-Semitic slogans. Chief Flaherty rejected the notion that the attack may have been “an interfraternity prank,” stating “the damage is much too severe for that.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.