Penn State condemns hateful posts, doxxing of students who commented on Israel-Hamas war posts
Penn State condemned hateful posts and doxxing after a number of students were doxxed online over the weekend after they commented on posts about the Israel-Hamas war.
Penn State said it rejects all forms of hate and discrimination in a release Sunday, where it said the number of bias reports on campus increased in the last few days, as well as an increase in “hateful and malicious” comments online about the Israel-Hamas war. Those comments have come from both within the Penn State community and outside of it, the release states.
Penn State received about three times as many bias reports last week as it did the week before, university spokesperson Wyatt DuBois said in an email Monday.
“Antisemitic, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim comments have no place at Penn State and do not at all align with the University’s values,” the release states. “We unequivocally reject all forms of hate, discrimination, harassment, and intimidation, as well as the vitriol online that perpetuates the cycle. These acts breach our values as an academic institution.”
It went on to say Penn State condemns both the hateful posts and the subsequent targeting and doxxing. The university defined doxxing as when someone publicly shares another person’s private information without their consent.
“The exposure of personal information with the intent to incite intimidation, harassment, and threats to personal safety is unacceptable. This abhorrent behavior does not belong in our society,” the release states.
At least one account on X, formerly Twitter, has doxxed more than a dozen Penn State students; some of the posts have gotten tens of thousands of likes and thousands of reposts. Most of the posts contain their name, photo and major at the university.
Penn State said it has contacted every student who has reported intimidation and harassment, and has offered assistance and resources.
Penn State Hillel, the foundation for Jewish Campus Life at Penn State, released its own statement on Sunday stating between the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks and through Yom Kippur, the campus experienced “several aggressive anti-Israel demonstrations by students and community members, and a number of our Jewish students at Penn State experienced hateful, antisemitic incidents.”
Penn State Hillel said they’re concerned by the incidents, as well as “malicious social media activity,” which they said is aimed at doxxing Jewish students.
“We condemn these attempts to publicly intimidate students and members of our Jewish community. Nor do we support hate or hurtful language directed at any people. There must be no place at Penn State for antisemitism, doxing or hate of any kind,” Penn State Hillel’s statement reads.
No Jewish students have been physically injured or harmed, the release states. Incidents have been reported to law enforcement and Penn State.
In its release, the university urged everyone to practice empathy.
“We urge every member of our community to practice empathy and respect, acknowledging the complexities of each other’s lived experiences, especially when tensions are high. By fostering spaces of care and support and upholding the dignity of every individual, we can create a more resilient foundation for understanding and unity. This approach is essential for building an inclusive community, where everyone feels valued and respected,” the release states.
The university provided several resources for anyone facing harassment or threats on social media, or has had their personal information exposed.
If any Penn State students are found to have be part of the direct threats or harassment, the university said its Office of Student Accountability will work to hold them accountable.
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