CHICAGO (CBS) — Two Jewish students were physically attacked at DePaul University Wednesday afternoon, the university said.
DePaul University President Robert L. Manuel said in a letter to the community that the attack occurred around 3:20 p.m. Wednesday in front of the student center on the Lincoln Park campus, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave. . “visibly” showed support for Israel, Manuel wrote.
The students suffered physical injuries but refused to receive medical treatment, Manuel wrote.
“We are outraged that this happened on our campus. This is completely unacceptable and a violation of DePaul’s values of defending and caring for the dignity of every individual,” Manuel wrote. “The university is actively working with the Chicago Police Department to investigate this incident so they can determine whether it should be classified as a hate crime targeting our students based on their Jewish identity. We will do everything we can possible to hold those responsible accountable for this scandalous incident.
Manuel also emphasized that DePaul will do everything possible to ensure the university is a safe and welcoming place for its entire community.
“We recognize that for a significant portion of our Jewish community, Israel is an essential part of their Jewish identity. These students – and every student – should feel safe on our college campus,” Manuel wrote. “Our shared expectations and guiding principles make it clear that DePaul will not tolerate any acts of hatred or violence.”
