Probe over Shoah T-shirt message

EXETER UNIVERSITY students are being investigated after guests at a freshers’ event wore T-shirts bearing antisemitic and racist messages.

One student was photographed wearing a T-shirt with the words “The Holocaust was a good time” written on it, while another wore one emblazoned with the words: “Don’t speak to me if you’re not white.”

The photos were posted on Twitter by Dimi Reider of Israel-Palestine news blog 972mag.com.

In response, a university spokesman said: “Antisemitic, racist or bigoted behaviour in any form is not tolerated. An investigation was launched as soon as the university learnt of this incident.”

The episode occured at an event held by the Exeter’s Snowsports Club’s where guests were invited to write demeaning messages on fellow party-goers T-shirts.

Future such events have now been banned by the Athletic Union which oversees the Snowsports Club.

A spokeswoman for the Union of Jewish Students welcomed the ban, and the university’s decision to investigate.

She said: “Any language that glorifies the Holocaust is unacceptable and is not something that any student should have to experience. We will be working with Exeter J-Soc in ensuring that appropriate action is taken.” Scrawled on a student’s top: “The Holocaust was a good time”

Mark Kiner, Exeter Jewish Society’s publicity officer, said it was an isolated case, and “not a recurring theme at the university.

“The only thing that I might add is our gratitude to the Palestinian student who first spotted, posted, and then condemned this incident on social media.”

Josh Callander, president of the Athletic Union, apologised to anyone offended by the students’ behaviour.

He said: “We have run more than 200 taster sessions for new students this month and we are very disappointed that the unacceptable actions of a few individuals has overshadowed what has been a very successful Freshers’ Week.”