Graffiti and Threats Response
Since fall 2025, San José State University has experienced a series of concerning incidents involving antisemitic, racist graffiti and hateful graffiti and explicit threats directed at multiple communities, occurring within a relatively short time frame and creating significant unease on campus.
The university condemns hate, violence and threats of violence. There is no place
for antisemitism and racism at SJSU.
Reports emerged in late October and early November 2025, when racist graffiti containing
slurs was found in a campus housing facility and subsequently discovered in an academic
building. The graffiti included overtly extremist imagery such as swastikas and language
targeting multiple groups, including Asian, Jewish, and Muslim communities.
Latest Update
On May 21, 2026, San José State and the SJSU University Police Department (UPD) announced the arrest of a suspect believed to be responsible for multiple hate-speech graffiti incidents and threatening messages discovered across the SJSU campus over the past several months.
The suspect was taken into custody by UPD on Wednesday, May 20, following an investigation conducted by university police with support from multiple campus partners and law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. Authorities allege the suspect vandalized multiple campus buildings and public spaces with hateful and threatening messages directed at members of the university community.
The incidents, which have persisted through the academic year, included graffiti containing antisemitic, Islamophobic, racial and/or discriminatory slurs, as well as threats of violence against these groups and the entire campus community. The messages caused significant concern among students, faculty, and staff and prompted sustained increased security measures across the campus.
The suspect, who has been banned from campus, and faces multiple counts, including:
- Felony Vandalism
- Felony Publishing Threats
- Potential hate crime enhancements related to the nature of the graffiti are typically determined by the Santa Clara County District Attorney.
University President Teninete-Matson issued a campus message, which can be found on the Presidential Communications Page.
Community Safety Alerts
- April 28, 2026 - Community Safety Alert (New incidents reported) [pdf]
- April 8, 2026 - Community Safety Alert (New incident reported)
- April 3, 2026 - Community Safety Alert (Update + new incident)
- March 26, 2026 - Community Safety Alert (Update)
- March 25, 2026 - Community Safety Alert (Update) [pdf]
- March 24, 2026 - Community Safety Alert (Initial Incident Report) [pdf]
Previous Incidents
A chronological summary of previous informaiton and communications issued to the university community of active students and employees (faculty, staff and auxiliaries) by the President, members of Cabinet, and/or University Police Department.
Graffiti and threat of violence discovered in MacQuarrie Hall on March 4, 2026; additional graffiti was found on March 12 from another campus restroom.
On Wednesday, March 4, University Police were made aware of hateful antisemitic graffiti
and a written threat of violence scrawled into a bathroom stall in MacQuarrie Hall.
The threat indicated violence of a non-specific nature would be perpetrated on campus
on March 11, and the threat was directed at the Jewish community. UPD is actively
investigating this incident and the graffiti was removed.
In response to the threat, University Police brought additional officers to campus
to increase foot patrols and collaborated with other law enforcement agencies.
The University reached out to campus groups who may be affected by the graffiti to
offer support.
Campus Safety Advisory 3/13 (Additional graffiti found) [pdf]
Campus Safety Advisory 3/11 (Update) [pdf]
Campus Safety Advisory 3/10 (Update) [pdf]
Campus Advisory 3/9 (Update) [pdf]
Campus Safety Web Update including FAQ
Campus Safety Advisory 3/4 (Initial incident report) [pdf]
All Campus Message - March 6, 2026: Community Support Following Antisemitic Graffiti
Graffiti and threat of violence discovered in MacQuarrie Hall on November 18, 2025
On Tuesday, November 18, University Police responded to multiple instances of graffiti
including antisemetic, anti-Asian, and anti-Muslim hate speech as well as specific
threats of violence to the campus community found in the bathroom of MacQuarrie Hall.
University Police initiated an investigation and determined a "low-risk" assessment
for campus while increasing foot patrols on campus and enhancing security measures.
Outreach from University leadership was made to deans, associate deans, directors
and chairs from the Provost; SJSU parents from the VP of Student Affairs as well as
impacted student and faculty groups. University leadership also met with representatives
of the Associated Students' board to discuss the threat.
Campus Safety Advisory - November 25 [pdf]
Campus Climate Update 2 from Provost - November 18
Campus Climate Update 1 from Provost - November 18
Graffiti containing racist slurs and politically motivated threats discovered in multiple locations on Oct. 25, 2025
Graffiti containing racist slurs and anti-Black, antisemitic, Islamophobic, and politically
motivated threats have been written in several locations on campus.
These locations include the Student Union, MLK Library, MacQuarrie Hall, Joe West
Residence Hall and Campus Village 2. University Police initiated an investigation.
The Campus Committee of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion held a Campus Climate Forum
on November 19.
Campus Message - Strengthening Safety and Inclusion in Campus Housing
Racist and discriminatory language is discovered in student housing, including on residents' bulletin boards on Oct. 10, 2025
The Office of University Housing and the University Police Department have initiated investigations into these incidents.
Additional information
If you have any information regarding these incidents, please contact UPD at (408) 924-2222 or report through the Spartan Safe mobile app.
Read all archived messages at Campus Safety
Archived messages include messages sent by VPs to their respective divisions and constituents,
as well as messaging to students, and to parents.
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CSU Response to Letter of Concern
This response is submitted on behalf of the California State University (CSU) and
San José State University (SJSU) in reply to a March 19, 2026 letter from the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, regarding
the antisemitic graffiti discovered on campus on March 4, 2026.
CSU Response Letter to Senate Committee
