FORDHAM — A racial slur was scratched into the door to the room of an African-American student at Fordham University and police are investigating the incident as a bias crime, officials at the college said.
The student told a resident assistant at 1 p.m. on Sept. 13 that someone had scrawled the slur into the door of his room at LaLande Hall, but because he and his roommates were not around for most of the day it wasn't clear when it happened, according to Fordham.
Staff from residential life and public safety officers at Fordham came to the room and notified the NYPD, which is looking at the incident as a bias crime, according to the university.
If the suspect is identified, he or she will face discipline from Fordham in addition to whatever criminal charges are filed, the university said.
"It goes without saying that such behavior is antithetical to the values of Jesuit education," university officials said in a statement.
"Such slurs injure not only their intended targets, but the entire Fordham community."
University officials urged anyone who knows something about the crime to call the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force at 646-610-8763 or the Office of Public Safety at 718-817-2222 and ask to speak with the duty supervisor.
