University investigating source of hate graffiti found on campus

Posters outside an office at the University of Windsor were a defaced last week with anti-feminist and anti-Islamic graffiti.

Slogans such as “Feminists get out of our government” and “Feminism is a hate movement” were first discovered on Monday, June 5 scrawled on posters inside the Women and Gender Studies Department outside the Bystander Initiative Office — which works to mitigate sexual assault.

It was reported to the community campus police after being discovered, said university spokesman John Coleman.

“The investigation remains ongoing,” he said on Wednesday. “They are trying to find out who did this.”

The university’s faculty association released a statement speaking out against the graffiti incident.

“All members of the university community must feel safe in their places of work and study,” said the association’s executive.

“Faculty members must be free to announce important policies and initiatives on posters in the hallways and on their office doors without fear of intimidation.”

The faculty association said it was “alarmed” how the graffiti “appeared well-planned, calmly executed and targeted at particular members of the faculty.”

“(The association) condemns these cowardly acts of violence against women, feminism, and our Islamic colleagues.”

University president Alan Wildeman also released a statement describing the actions as “highly offensive.”

“Campus community police are doing the best they can to identify those responsible and prevent further similar acts,” Wildeman said. “Such activity is hurtful and can never be tolerated at the University of Windsor.”