Update from Fountain Walker, NYU Vice President for Global Campus Safety, On the Report of a Stolen Mezuzah

"The reported theft of a mezuzah from the doorpost of a student's room in one of our residence halls turns out not to be an antisemitic incident or a hate crime.

"While I cannot, for reasons of privacy, provide all the details, I can say that the student involved in the mezuzah's removal has voluntarily stepped forward and returned the mezuzah to its owner and apologized. The account given to Campus Safety and other University officials enables us to confidently conclude that, while problematic judgment was demonstrated, the investigation of the incident as an antisemitic incident should be closed. The NYPD, which responded promptly to the initial report, has been notified of the developments.

"We want to acknowledge the solidarity shown on campus in rejecting the spectre of antisemitism and hate, and the support and concern offered far and wide. NYU shall continue to be vigilant, and to have a zero tolerance policy towards hate, bigotry, harassment, and discrimination."