The University of Rochester Department of Public Safety announced that five persons of interest have been identified in connection to the hundreds of “wanted” posters that covered a campus tunnel on Monday, Nov. 11.
The posters accused faculty members of enabling the loss of civilian lives and displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. University officials removed the flyers and contacted those named in them.
Department of Public Safety Chief Quchee Collins said that no formal charges have been filed yet, but the investigative team is collaborating with local, state, and federal law enforcement to analyze evidence. The University is also working with the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office to explore potential charges.
Collins said no credible threats against individuals named in the posters have been identified. However, safety planning and support will remain in place for those affected.
The department expects to release further updates early next week as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to contact Public Safety at (585) 275-3333.
Damaged UR medical sign under investigation
On Friday morning, a sign at UR Medicine’s Brighton Health Center was discovered “purposefully damaged,” according to Collins. Staff covered the sign before 6 a.m., and it will remain concealed until it is replaced.
Collins said that some wording on the damaged sign might connect to the recent campus events but emphasized that it is too early to confirm any links.
The school is investigating the incident alongside the Brighton Police Department.
No safety or security threats have been identified at UR Medicine facilities, Collins said.
UR campus events draw national attention
The discovery of the “wanted” posters at the University of Rochester has brought the incident into the national spotlight, both in media coverage and on the U.S. Senate floor.
On Nov. 13, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer addressed the matter during a Senate floor speech.
More:‘Campus activism that veers into hate speech.’ UR prof, Schumer condemn ‘wanted’ posters
“I condemn the loathsome actions of those who posted these ‘wanted’ posters,” Schumer said. “Any attempt to threaten or target someone simply because of their Jewish identity is antisemitism, plain and simple. Those responsible have done nothing to further their cause.”
UR confronts campus tensions amid Israel-Hamas war
The University of Rochester is among many colleges nationwide experiencing heightened tensions following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian student protesters have accused university officials of censoring and penalizing them for calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and advocating for divestment from Israeli institutions. Last fall, students at several universities reported that administrators disrupted peaceful protests, linking pro-Palestinian activism to support for Hamas.
More:‘Wanted’ posters targeting Jewish faculty at UR condemned on U.S. Senate floor. See the video
Universities maintain they have the right to regulate protests to ensure a respectful environment. At the University of Rochester, tensions peaked last spring when students staged a two-day sit-in at Wallis Hall, which closed administrative offices before campus security removed the encampment.
“This act is disturbing, divisive, and intimidating and runs counter to our values as a university,” University of Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf said of the “wanted’ posters on Tuesday .
Justice Marbury, Gary Craig and Kayla Canne contributed reporting to this story.
— Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who edited our Weld Street Project and also did reporting for it. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com.