Spring Break
URI student charged for racial graffiti
Betsy Cohen
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: News
11/4/09 - This semester the University of Rhode Island's police department reported three incidents involving racist and anti-Semitic graffiti.
According to Maj. Stephen Baker of URI Police, the graffiti was found in Heathman and Adams halls, in addition to outside of Peck Hall.
On Tuesday, Oct. 27 police charged Eric Muroski, 18, of 42 Hamilton Ave., Southington, Conn. with disorderly conduct and vandalism after an Oct. 21 incident in which he allegedly wrote racial remarks, in addition to drawing a penis and testicles, on the whiteboard of a Heathman Hall dorm room. Three black women live in the room.
Police said the incident spurred from a disturbance between the black women and white women who resided on the same floor. Police reports indicate Muroski also tried to force himself into the black women's room, but was unsuccessful.
Baker said witnesses saw Muroski commit the crime and were able to identify him through photos.
In another incident, Baker said someone had drawn anti-Semitic words and symbols, including swastikas, in a stall on second-floor men's bathroom of Adams Hall. Baker said the incident happened weeks ago, but was not reported initially.
Police have not found the person responsible for the graffiti in the bathroom, but are still actively pursuing the matter, Baker said.
URI's Department of Housing and Residential Life held a meeting yesterday to address the offenses.
Baker said a URI police officer attended the meeting in hopes of finding more information about the offenses, but said he was unsuccessful.
"We hope that people will come forward," Baker said.
He added that acts of hatred toward any group are "not tolerated" and constitute unacceptable behavior.
However, Baker said these acts are not common occurrences on campus.
"We see a few instances every semester. Fortunately this does not happen often at URI," he said.
Anti-Semitic graffiti was also found outside Peck Hall.
"There is a perception that this kind of activity is increasing, so it's obviously something that we want to address," Baker said.
Roxanne Gomes, the director of Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity and Diversity, at URI asked the Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice to address issues involving prejudices. A representative will speak in the Student Senate Chambers in the Memorial Union today at 11 a.m.
According to Maj. Stephen Baker of URI Police, the graffiti was found in Heathman and Adams halls, in addition to outside of Peck Hall.
On Tuesday, Oct. 27 police charged Eric Muroski, 18, of 42 Hamilton Ave., Southington, Conn. with disorderly conduct and vandalism after an Oct. 21 incident in which he allegedly wrote racial remarks, in addition to drawing a penis and testicles, on the whiteboard of a Heathman Hall dorm room. Three black women live in the room.
Police said the incident spurred from a disturbance between the black women and white women who resided on the same floor. Police reports indicate Muroski also tried to force himself into the black women's room, but was unsuccessful.
Baker said witnesses saw Muroski commit the crime and were able to identify him through photos.
In another incident, Baker said someone had drawn anti-Semitic words and symbols, including swastikas, in a stall on second-floor men's bathroom of Adams Hall. Baker said the incident happened weeks ago, but was not reported initially.
Police have not found the person responsible for the graffiti in the bathroom, but are still actively pursuing the matter, Baker said.
URI's Department of Housing and Residential Life held a meeting yesterday to address the offenses.
Baker said a URI police officer attended the meeting in hopes of finding more information about the offenses, but said he was unsuccessful.
"We hope that people will come forward," Baker said.
He added that acts of hatred toward any group are "not tolerated" and constitute unacceptable behavior.
However, Baker said these acts are not common occurrences on campus.
"We see a few instances every semester. Fortunately this does not happen often at URI," he said.
Anti-Semitic graffiti was also found outside Peck Hall.
"There is a perception that this kind of activity is increasing, so it's obviously something that we want to address," Baker said.
Roxanne Gomes, the director of Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity and Diversity, at URI asked the Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice to address issues involving prejudices. A representative will speak in the Student Senate Chambers in the Memorial Union today at 11 a.m.
Be the first to comment on this story