Friday, May 10th, Riverdale parents were alerted that a swastika had been found on a desk in the Riverdale Hill Campus’ 9/10 building. It is unclear how long the swastika has been there or who is responsible for etching it into the desk. Regardless of the many ambiguous factors, Riverdale is investigating the situation and is taking steps to reassure students and faculty on campus. As Head of School, Kari Ostrem wishes to reiterate: “Community is the core of this place and we have to take care of our community.” 

Since there are no security cameras in classrooms, those on the investigative team are using hallway footage in hopes of catching and holding the culprit responsible. However, Riverdale’s administration does not think they will find answers without any video documentation from within the classroom. 

According to Ms. Ostrem, “many people could have sat at that desk and not noticed…it could be that it was there for a lot longer than anybody noticed.” She revealed that the investigation team “[has] every camera going in and out of that room for months” and they have not provided sufficient information. Thus, Ms. Ostrem was willing “to go on record to say that it’s not realistic that [they] will find the person.” She clarified, however, that that “is not going to stop the effort.”

On Monday, May 13th, head of Upper School Mike Velez addressed the high school in a brief assembly, stressing above all else that any student caught promoting antisemitic hate speech, including the use of hateful symbols would be dismissed from school. However, Ms. Ostrem acknowledged in her interview that the school missed the opportunity to explain the historical significance of the symbol during Monday’s assembly. Avery Nemo, 11th Grader and leader of the JINY (Jewish In New York) affinity, said, “I think that, honestly, some actual historical factual education about the Holocaust and where the swastika came about in Nazi Germany would provide a deeper understanding  of why it’s so harmful.” This education could prevent students from drawing or spreading hateful symbols out of ignorance in the future.

Ms. Ostrem offered her statement regarding the severity of the swastika: “the symbol of the swastika has had a long history, but we know it in this country and in this place as a symbol of hate weaponized by the Nazi Empire,...specifically targeting our Jewish community and …referencing the Holocaust when 6 million Jewish people died….[The] wiping out a third of the world’s Jews is not a light symbol.” 

Kristina Berger, a Riverdale Upper School parent, said “It was upsetting… knowing that someone put it there on purpose, or was so thoughtless, that they didn’t think it would matter.” Berger went on to say, that, “There might need to be some more education about what hate symbols are and how they can be interpreted.”

Nemo also added that education “definitely needs to start in middle school.” Incorporating stronger education around hate speech will help the Riverdale community continue to be a safe space for students of all backgrounds.