(Photo by L. Shanley)

In separate instances, swastikas were found to be carved and painted in elevators on Georgetown University’s campus this week.

University officials sent emails two days in a row informing the community of the vandalism. A swastika was found carved in an elevator in the Village C West residence on Tuesday evening. The following night, two painted swastikas were found in an elevator in the LXR Hall dorm.

“As a community, we condemn all acts of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism, and any form of hate. These acts are antithetical to our values as a Catholic and Jesuit university and our commitment to be inclusive and welcoming to people of all faiths and racial and ethnic backgrounds,” said Mark Bosco, the school’s vice president for mission and ministry, and Todd Olson, the vice president for student affairs, in an email to students.

There were eight bias-related incidents reported to Georgetown University Police during the last school year, according to campus newspaper The Hoya. Among them, anti-Semitic graffiti was found near a campus Jewish center in May, an Asian student was spat on, and a student wearing a hijab was attacked off campus in November. In the wake of Charlottesville last month, someone spray painted an anti-Semitic slur on a building in the Burleith neighborhood a few blocks off campus.

In total, bias-crimes rose 62 percent across the city last last year, and crimes specific to religion more than tripled. Two-thirds of those were directed at the Jewish community.

“Swastika graffiti has been utilized increasingly to create a climate of fear and intimidation,” said Doron Ezickson, the director for the Anti-Defamation League Washington in response to the latest incident at Georgetown. “This racist and anti-Semitic symbol must always be taken seriously, and responded to appropriately.”