To the Editor:
We are writing to voice our concern about the presence of swastikas around Dolan Hall. Although the history of the swastika as a symbol reaches back over 3,000 years, it serves today as a powerful reminder of Hitler’s Nazi Party and its murder of over 6 million human beings during World War II.
Despite the negative connotations of the swastika, several of them have been scratched into a wall in our elevator since the middle of March. We received an e-mail from our RHC on March 18 informing us that all Dolan residents had been charged for the drawings. But this did not stop a new one from appearing within the last few days. After living in the residence halls for the past 4 years, we are well aware that when a washing machine breaks down it is deemed important enough to fix within a short amount of time; yet nobody has been hired to paint over these powerful symbols of hatred.
What does this overwhelming apathy towards the swastikas say about Fairfield’s priorities? What about our “Jesuit ideals,” and men and women for others? If these swastikas were drawn in a more central location on campus-for example somewhere that the Office of Admissions takes tours of prospective students-would they still remain after several weeks? Even if the swastikas are meant to be some sort of sick and twisted joke, is Fairfield the type of institution to tolerate it?
We sincerely hope that this letter sheds light on what a serious issue the presence of such a symbol is, and that this problem is addressed and remedied immediately.
Sincerely,
Alisha Holland ’05 and
Courtney Cashman ’05
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