The Ukrainian Student Association has been on the receiving end of hateful vandalism for five weeks, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal visited campus on Monday to discuss it with them.
Over the past five weeks, Ukrainian ribbons across campus have been vandalized with the ‘Z’ symbol, a Russian military symbol. Russian flags were placed in a Ukrainian flag memorial. Fliers and black and orange ribbons, symbolizing the Ribbon of Saint George, a Russian military symbol, were placed around campus. Most recently, posters were placed around campus and attached to the walls with adhesive accusing the Ukrainian Student Association of Nazism. The posters also included genocide denial and photos with swastikas. According to Ukrainian Student Association member Sonia Zazulak, the posters were placed around South, Alumni, Towers and North residence halls.
“Our main point is that all of this has been going on for five weeks now.”
Kate Koval, president of the Ukrainian Student Association
Due to the lack of a response from UConn, the Ukrainian Student Association emailed Sen. Blumenthal to ask for his support in addressing the hate speech, as Blumenthal has been very supportive of Ukraine and has visited the country five times since February 2022. Blumenthal came to UConn on Monday and took questions from members of the Ukrainian Student Association.
Kate Koval, president of the Ukrainian Student Association, said, “Our main point is that all of this has been going on for five weeks now.” She discussed the escalation of these acts and said, “When the posters came out, I was shaking for three hours and I could not stop.”
Koval has met with the Dean of Students, Associate Dean, UConn police captain and the Director of Community Standards. UConn President Radenka Maric did not respond to her requests for a meeting. Maric was also emailed by Blumenthal regarding the hate speech. Blumenthal said that he would send another email to Maric following the meeting.
“We have seen in the past weeks that these incidents have been increasing. We’re just worried that, where does this end?” said Zazulak, who brought up that there was a shift in UConn’s support of the Ukrainian Student Association. “I was on campus two years ago, and they were extremely, extremely supportive of Ukraine.”
She mentioned that UConn’s President Radenka Maric had organized a vigil and invited people to speak around the start of the war.
“I guess I’m just hoping that UConn continues to stand with the Ukrainian community,” student Mark Rokycky said. “We appreciate Senator Blumenthal’s support or continued support for Ukraine.”
“I understand that these incidents have been increasing … the upsurge and escalation are in part due to an unsatisfactory response,” said Blumenthal. He repeatedly asked UConn to condemn the hate speech, saying, “The failure to condemn this hate speech will only breed more of it.”
He also brought up his legislative record. “I have sponsored hate crimes legislation. We had in mind acts of intimidation and fear. There is no place at the University of Connecticut for this intimidation or hate crimes.”
“I will come back because we need to stop this hate speech from escalating,” Blumenthal said. “When you talk about it escalating here, it will expand to other campuses.”
Koval and Zazulak said that they were considering organizing a protest or a rally before Blumenthal gave his talk. “I hope that maybe we’ll have some rallies for Ukraine. I would be proud to speak at a rally that the Ukrainian Student Association has put on,” Blumenthal responded. He complimented the Ukrainian Student Association’s record, saying, “I admire your courage, your resolve, your bravery in standing up and speaking out.”
“That should have no place at the University of Connecticut, or anywhere in the U.S. or in the world,” Blumenthal told the Ukrainian Student Association
“I ask that the investigation be made public … and that there be a more forceful condemnation,” Blumenthal said. “I think we need to elevate your courage and determination. I want to see more students know what you’re doing and know what a threat it is to have this kind of defacing and desecration … and intimidation and threats. People should know.”
“UCPD cannot do much because the police do not consider propaganda a hate crime,” said Koval. Ukrainian refugee Arsen Dmytryshy said that “propaganda is like a weapon and it is very powerful.”
In a statement, University spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said, “We condemn all acts of bias on our campuses; hatred has no place in our community as we work together to ensure an atmosphere of inclusivity, care, and respect. Our Dean of Students and others continue to meet and speak with members of the Ukrainian Student Association and to investigate the incidents reported to us.”
“President Maric cares very deeply about this issue and has closely followed the developments, both through discussions directly with students and also with the Dean of Students, the Provost, the Vice President for Student Life & Enrollment, and many others,” Reitz continued. “The university condemns hate in any context and will be sending a reply to the senator’s letter very soon.”
“The posters that are being put up, we have been told not to touch them and not to take them down,”
Tetyana Banaryk, a member of the Ukrainian Student Association
Regarding punishment for vandalism and hate speech, Reitz said, “Any violations of the law or the Student Code of Conduct will be answered with disciplinary measures and law enforcement where appropriate.”
“The posters that are being put up, we have been told not to touch them and not to take them down,” Tetyana Banaryk, a member of the Ukrainian Student Association, told Blumenthal.“What should we do then?”
Alumni Hall directors shared an email with Alumni residents regarding the posters informing them of what to do if they saw similar posters, which Zazulak called “a step in the right direction.”
“All posters for residence halls on campus must first be approved by the Department of Residential Life and are stamped with approval,” the email read. “Flyers without this stamp will be promptly removed, regardless of the content. Any vandalism to our communities will also be dealt with accordingly.”
The email also listed instructions on what to do if Alumni residents see any form of vandalism or unapproved postings within the UConn community:
- Call the RA On-Duty at 860-234-2181 (Brock & Eddy) OR 860-234-2179 (Belden & Watson)
- Alert a professional staff member via email
- Call Facilities at 860-486-3113
- If you believe the vandalism or posting is also a bias incident, you can report a bias incident here (please be sure to disable live photos when taking pictures)