Swastika Flag Raised Above NYU Building Named For Jewish Donor

A swastika flag was raised above a New York University building named for major Jewish philanthropists on Wednesday evening, as students and families gathered for the school’s annual Grad Alley celebration ahead of commencement.

The flag was seen shortly after 5 p.m. above NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, which overlooks Washington Square Park. It included swastikas, the letters “NYU,” and a Star of David, according to reports.

The building has carried the names of Michael and Judy Steinhardt since 2016. Michael Steinhardt, a billionaire philanthropist raised in a Jewish home, founded Birthright Israel and has funded major Jewish education initiatives.

NYU spokesperson Wiley Norvell said the university was “shocked and deeply troubled that this hateful symbol expressing antisemitism was raised on a flagpole overlooking Washington Square Park.”

“Campus Safety responded immediately to remove it and we are working closely with the NYPD to identify whoever is responsible,” Norvell said. “We are one community. We protect each other. And we will not let hate and division find a foothold on our campus.”

The flag was removed after about 15 minutes. Washington Square News reported that NYPD officers and Campus Safety personnel entered the building afterward, and that police were expected to review camera footage. The incident may be investigated as a hate crime, according to the report.

Students who saw the flag described shock during what was supposed to be a celebratory evening before graduation. “It’s just disgusting, actually. Kind of repulsive,” senior Luca Pasquini told WCBS-TV. Nursing graduate Jiani Zou described the display as “hurtful.”

Another student told CBS that the timing made the display especially disturbing. “On a day where it’s all about happiness, and celebrating something, to have a symbol of hate just be above everything is just terrible,” the student said.

NYU Hillel president Adina Fridman said the use of Nazi imagery carried a clear message for Jewish students.

“Symbols tied to the genocide of millions of Jews carry profound pain and trauma, and their use has no place in a campus community that values dignity, safety, and respectful dialogue,” Fridman told Washington Square News.

She said the incident reflected a “broader pattern in which antisemitism is increasingly dismissed or normalized under the guise of political expression.”

The incident comes as NYU continues facing scrutiny over antisemitism on campus. The university settled a federal antisemitism lawsuit in 2024, and previous reports have described antisemitic graffiti, a stolen mezuzah, and vandalism targeting Jewish students.

NYU was preparing to hold its All-University Commencement ceremony at Yankee Stadium after the Grad Alley event. As of Thursday, police had not publicly announced an arrest.