UConn Investigating 2 Instances of Intolerance

STORRS, CT — University of Connecticut officials this week have been investigating two instances of apparent intolerance on campus — one seemingly religiously charged and the other racially charged.

One was on Sept. 1. Student Nathan Schachter said he was walking on campus and heard a female voice come out of a car.

“Go to the (expletive) ovens,” the voice said as the faceless heckler drove away. Schachter described the scene in detail on his Facebook page.

"Why? Because I wear a kippah; because I am Jewish," he wrote. "I made it almost 21 years through life, including 2 years at UConn, without encountering such an incident."

The kippah even had a UConn logo on it, he said.

The other was on Tuesday when an older man described as a "regular" at the library had a verbal confrontation with a student. The student then told authorities he made racially insensitive comments.

As far as the library incident is concerned, UConn officials said the student did report the incident to police and it is being investigated.

"Various offices within the University also have been notified so they can reach out to affected students with support and services," the statement read. "We can't discuss specifics of an open investigation, but generally speaking, UConn can bar anyone from campus property if it's determined he or she poses a threat to others or disrupts normal university operations."

Fox 61 showed a recorded video about the incident in a web posting. The man's face is blurred because he has not been charged with any crime.

Visitors are expected to behave accordingly, UConn officials said.

"UConn students have the right to feel safe and respected here, and anyone who doesn't abide by those expectations isn't welcome in our campus communities," officials said.

Schachter is active in the Jewish community both on campus and in his native West Hartford. He seems to be taking the high road and has openly thanked the community for support and efforts to educate the public on insensitivity.

"I'm proud that the UConn community has taken such a great stance on this issue, and it has become such a prevalent topic of discussion among everyone," he said on Facebook. "A week can feel like a long time, but I have been so comforted and overwhelmed by the outpour of love and support from so many since the incident last Thursday."

UConn officials generally take a hard stance on such matters with various houses of worship along North Eagleville Road.

"UConn has no tolerance for discrimination, harassment and intimidation based on bigotry or bias. We want our campuses to be welcoming and inclusive for everyone, and any behaviors that contradict those values are taken very seriously, a statement read. "The information that was shared with the University about this incident has been provided to UConn Police, who are investigating. As part of UConn’s protocol for handling reports of bias incidents, the Dean of Students’ Office, Community Standards, the Office of Institutional Equity, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and other offices on campus also have been notified."

Photo Credit: Patch File