The LGBT center at the University of California-Davis was vandalized with anti-gay sentiments and homophobic slurs last week.

Black spray paint covered the building and sidewalk, threatening LGBT students with phrases like “Gays go to hell,” and “Fag!”

The graffiti has not yet been removed and some students argue its important for others to see it.  Senior Amy Rothman said she wants the public to see the hate speech. Student Michelle Kaufman said the graffiti signifies the reality of a strained campus climate.

“It’s kind of like a kick in the face to all the people who think that homophobia doesn’t exist, and racism, and discrimination of all sorts,” said Kaufman to a local Fox news station.
 
Police Sergeant Barry Swartwood said that the graffiti qualifies as a hate crime, and is being investigated as such.

Students and community members have been going to see the vandalism, some taking pictures with their cell phones.

The incident comes shortly after a swastika was carved into the dorm room of a Jewish student.

Chancellor Linda Katehi held a meeting Monday night to discuss this rash of incidents. Though Katehi only addressed those at UC Davis, a string of over five visible incidents have upended the California academic community in the past several weeks, including a KKK hood and a noose found on campus at UC San Diego.

At the meeting, students organized to come up with a list of proposals for the administration, likely including mandatory campus-wide diversity training.


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