Anti-Semitic graffiti appeared over the weekend on a sign announcing construction of a long-delayed center for Jewish students near the UC San Diego campus.
The words “Fuck All You!” appeared on a sign at La Jolla Village Drive and La Jolla Scenic Drive North announcing the development of the Beverly and Joseph Glickman Hillel Center at UC San Diego. The graffiti was discovered Monday morning.
“We are deeply disappointed that anyone would vandalize our property with such hateful speech,” said Emily Jennewein, president of Hillel of San Diego. “Unfortunately, bigoted opposition to our plans is not new to us, nor will we let it deter our absolute commitment to building the Glickman Center as soon as possible.”
The $15 million project was unanimously approved by both the San Diego Planning Commission and City Council last year after 20 years of effort by supporters. Three buildings totaling 6,500 square feet are planned on a long-vacant triangular plot of land across La Jolla Village drive from the UC San Diego campus. Part of the land would be dedicated for public open space.
However, the project still faces a lawsuit from neighbors who oppose it. Taxpayers for Responsible Land Use filed suit in Superior Court in November arguing that the project will “impair the character of the area” and that the City Council acted to “expressly endorse the promotion and growth of Judaism.”
Supporters of the project, which was reduced in size after an earlier lawsuit, say it will act as a buffer between the residential community and the university campus. A center for Mormon students is already located in the neighborhood, as is a Lutheran church that serves students.
There are Hillel programs for Jewish students at UC San Diego, San Diego State University, Cal State San Marcos and the University of San Diego. A new Hillel center at SDSU opened in 2014.
— From Staff and Wire Reports