The discovery of a hakenkreuz, the term for the swastika when used as a Nazi symbol, carved into a bench in Gonville and Caius College has prompted an inquiry into antisemitism, Islamophobia, and extremism.
The College’s porters and Senior Tutor were notified of the vandalism at the start of June. The symbol was covered overnight and removed the following morning. The perpetrator is currently unknown – minutes from an extraordinary general meeting of the Gonville and Caius Student Union (GCSU) held on 3 June state that, as Caius has been closed to the public during exams, the culprit is believed to be a Caius student or someone known to a member of the College.
In an email sent to students, the master of Caius, Richard Gilbertson, noted the “deep offence and distress” caused by the hakenkreuz, saying Caius “will not tolerate acts such as this” and asking for those with information to come forward.
Speaking to Varsity, Senior Tutor Andrew Spencer said that he had recommended Caius tutors consider reaching out to students who may have been affected, especially Jewish students.
The GCSU held an extraordinary open meeting in response to the incident, to discuss “Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of Extremism.” GCSU President Max Ferrara said he called the meeting to develop an action plan, to “make sure that this never happens again, and that we do not tolerate this.”
Ferrara continued: “unfortunately this is a college that faces all kinds of discrimination,” adding that many Jewish students had said they were scared to enter Caius after the incident.
The agenda for the meeting also included a second point, concerning proposals to re-design the college bar and surrounding rooms. According to the minutes, students in attendance were critical of the decision to table this point alongside the discussion of the vandalism, and ultimately it was not discussed due to time constraints.
Ferrara told Varsity: “the primary focus of the discussion was the impact of that incident and how the College community should respond to antisemitism. We recognise that some students questioned references to Islamophobia alongside antisemitism, and we understand why they raised that concern.”
Regarding the second agenda point, he said: “concerns were raised […] and, appropriately, the item was not discussed.
“The GCSU’s priority throughout has been to support students affected by this incident and to work constructively with the College.”
One student who attended the meeting told Varsity they saw the carving as related to other issues in Caius: “you speak to students […] and they say Caius has not come across as a nice place.”
The student referenced the fact that Caius did not fly the Pride Flag this year due to a low student turnout in a vote on the issue, as well as a now-removed stained glass window in Caius’s dining hall commemorating statistician and former fellow R.A. Fisher. It was removed in 2020, amid protests surrounding his advocacy of eugenics. An exhibition celebrating one of Fisher’s key works was displayed in the College library in Michaelmas 1025.
The GCSU President and Vice President told Varsity a working group has been set up by the College in relation to the window.
At the open meeting, Spencer called the incident “an attack on all of us within the community.” Regarding disciplining the perpetrator, he said: “I don’t want them thrown out, I want to be able to educate them about this and why it is not funny.”
The GCSU had previously organised training for students on antisemitism and islamophobia, but Caians who matriculated this year have not undergone it. The GCSU announced at the open meeting that the College Council would fund training for all students, staff, and fellows. The meeting also discussed a potential inquiry and report into antisemitism, racism, and extremism, including a form to gather anonymous testimony from students.
Speaking to Varsity, Charlotte Fobel, a Jewish student at Caius who reported the hakenkreuz, said: “I view this incident as an antisemitic incident.” She acknowledged the “symbol affects other groups” and that it relates to “a wider culture of intolerance not just in college but outside of college.”
She continued: “It’s so upsetting and really difficult to handle especially because of the antisemitic incidents or the things that I’ve heard that have made me uncomfortable over the last few years.” She noted that this case does not stem from “ignorance” or “political events,” but “an incredibly old and established form of antisemitism.”
She added: “it should be known to students applying […] that the Gonville and Caius Student Union is looking at these issues and taking them seriously.”
Another Jewish student told Varsity that they “had never had an issue personally” with antisemitism at Caius. However, regarding the title of the open meeting, they said: “as important as it is that Muslim students feel safe, the conflation of antisemitism and Islamophobia felt like the wrong response.”
Other students voiced concerns surrounding the symbol, noting Nazi persecution of other groups. One MCR member told Varsity that, as a woman of colour, she sees it as a direct threat, and linked to other hate crimes she has faced in Caius and the wider University.
Speaking to Varsity Gilbertson emphasised “just how shocked the entire Caius community is by such an abhorrent and mindless act of hate.” He pledged to work closely with students, recognising that: “this is a problem for the whole community […] and […] the wider world.”
Spencer said: “Caius is a place for debate and discussion […] but it shouldn’t be a place where individuals, groups, or the whole community are attacked.”
Asked what they would say to prospective students or staff members in light of the incident, Gilbertson said: “we take this seriously and they’re coming into a community […] in which they can ultimately feel safe, because this is not a community that is pretending this hasn’t happened or won’t happen again in the future.”
Spencer said: “Caius has a very long and proud tradition of Jewish students, of Jewish fellows, of Jewish scholars […] it’s something that the College is extremely proud of.”
The College also announced a meeting for students and fellows to talk directly to each other about their experiences of antisemitism.
