Hate
On Campus

STACY GITTLEMAN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

F

ollowing last week’s rash of anti-
Semitic incidents on two Michigan
college campuses, including emails
rigged to look like they originated from
a University of Michigan computer sci-
ence professor and a Valentine’s Day
card delivered at a Central Michigan
University event featuring the image of

This anti-Semitic Valentine’s Day card was distributed at a student event at CMU.

Screenshot of U-M hate letter

Anti-Semitism at
U-M, CMU prompts
strong reactions.

sender’s address in an email.”
Adolf Hitler, administrators,
In fact, computer science
students and several Jewish
and engineering student
organizations are standing up
Daniel Chandross, 20, of West
against the hatred.
Bloomfield, who received the
Campus Hillels continue
spoofed email, said he and fel-
to offer support to those dis-
low students figured out in 15
turbed by the incidents as well
minutes that the email was a
as programs that engage Jewish
Tilly Shames
fake.
students and encourage dia-
In a Feb. 8 statement to U-M
logue with the wider student
Hillel students, parents, alumni
body.
and donors, Hillel Executive
At U-M, the FBI, along with
Director Tilly Shames said Hillel
campus police, continue to
is working with the FBI and U-M
work to uncover the distribu-
authorities regarding the next
tor of the emails. Though their
steps to take and are being kept
origin is not clear, they read as
informed of any developments in
if they came from Professor Dr.
the investigation.
Alex Halderman.
“The messages sent to our
The messages, sent to
Daniel Chandross
students were deeply disturb-
Computer Science and
ing and upsetting to our Jewish
Engineering students on Feb. 7,
community,” Shames’ statement said. “It
read: “Hi (N-word), I just wanted to say
that I plan to kill all of you. White power! is important we come together in this
moment to show this kind of hate will
The KKK has returned!!!”
not be tolerated. Hate has no place on
An email addressed to Jewish people
read: “I just wanted to say the SS will rise our campus. We will not be defined by
these hateful messages but rather by
again and kill all your filthy souls. Die in
the way we come together in response
a pit of eternal fire! … Heil Trump!”
to them, showing our support for one
University spokesman Rick
another. We stand with all students and
Fitzgerald said the emails were sent
faculty impacted by these emails, and
from a “spoofed” account attributed
will continue to seek ways to offer sup-
to Halderman. Unlike a hacked email
where someone gains control of an email port and unite as a campus community.”
The leaders of the U-M Central
account, a spoofed email is a forgery
Student Government in a written state-
designed to look like it came from out of
ment also expressed disturbance at
the country.
the “overtly racist, anti-Black and anti-
“These messages were spoofed,”
Semitic” emails and stressed “they have
Halderman wrote in a statement on the
no place on this campus.”
U-M website. “I did not send them, and
“An offense against any member of
I don’t know who did. As I teach in my
this university is an offense against all,”
computer security classes, it takes very
little technical sophistication to forge the the CSG statement read. “Even if you are

continued on page 18

jn

February 16 • 2017

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