SCAD, Savannah Rabbi, students respond to antisemitic post made about alleged party

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A post on social media has sparked controversy after the poster created a homemade sign for an alleged party and included the phrase “no Jews.”

The discriminatory post was made by someone who claimed to be having a party for Savannah College of Art and Design students. The college said there was never any party on SCAD property. In a statement, college officials said the individual who created the social media post is not a currently enrolled student at SCAD.

“It was pretty shocking right away,” said Brodie Laforce, a current SCAD student. Laforce says he messaged the poster right after it happened.

“I actually added him on snapchat and DM’d him to see if he was just joking or whatever,” Laforce said. “He was doubling down on everything, he was doubling down, and he you know... no jews at the party.”

“I don’t like have words to express it because it’s an emotion really and it just makes all of us feel so unsafe,” said Roxanne Berger, another current SCAD student.

Students and Jewish families gathered at the Chabad of Savannah for dinner, as they do every week. Rabbi Zalman Refson says, he’s just relieved that students are okay.

“The fact that this type of hatred even exists in the first place is definitely concerning,” said Rabbi Refson.

SCAD has released a statement regarding the post saying, “Since Savannah College of Art and Design was founded, the university has been committed to fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment dedicated to the well-being of all students. Under the university’s nondiscrimination policy SCAD does not allow any form of discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, or veteran status.

On the evening of Thursday, April 24, university leadership became aware of a social media post that violates these nondiscrimination policies and immediately launched an investigation. Based on this initial investigation, the individual who created the social media post is not a currently enrolled student at SCAD. There is also no evidence that an event as described in the post took place on SCAD property and no discriminatory signage was found anywhere on campus.

The investigation is ongoing to confirm that no current member of the SCAD community was involved in the creation of the social media post or related activities. SCAD leadership is reaching out to students, faculty, and staff who have been affected by the social media post to offer support and resources."

The Savannah Police Department said they are not investigating the post at this time.

The Savannah Jewish Federation also released a statement Friday saying, “It has been brought to our attention that an invitation to a party at SCAD, circulated yesterday, specified, ”No Jews.”

This blatant antisemitism is unacceptable.

Savanah Jewish Federation is working closely with our partners a the Secure Community Network, Hillels of Georgia, the Savannah Police Department and SCAD on this issue.

At this juncture our priorities are the welfare of the Jewish community, appropriate disciplinary measures, and education to ensure students understand the nature and history of antisemitism and why such an invitation is beyond the pale.

This incident is of deep concern to our community and we will not let it stand. We commit to keeping you posted as we engage with our partners.

To report incidents of antisemitism please reach out to Savannah’s Jewish Community Security Director at RRay@SecureCommunityNetwork.org or at 872.227.1336.”