Key Points:
- Two 18-year-old Syracuse University students were arrested for throwing pork into a Jewish fraternity during a Rosh Hashanah celebration.
- Both face charges of burglary as a hate crime and criminal nuisance.
- University officials and prosecutors condemned the act, calling it targeted and unacceptable.
Incident During Jewish Holiday Celebration
Two Syracuse University students in New York state are facing hate crime charges after authorities say one of them threw a bag of pork into the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity house during a Rosh Hashanah gathering. The incident occurred Tuesday evening around 6 p.m. as fraternity members marked the Jewish New Year, officials confirmed.
According to police, one student entered the fraternity house and tossed a plastic bag filled with pork against an interior wall, splattering the contents across the wall and floor. The suspect then fled and got into a Jeep Wrangler driven by another student. Both were arrested shortly after the incident.
The two 18-year-olds, identified as Samuel Patten and Kyle Anderson, were charged with burglary as a hate crime and criminal nuisance. Jewish dietary law prohibits pork, and authorities emphasized the timing of the act—on an important religious holiday at a historically Jewish fraternity—underscored its seriousness.
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick stated the behavior would not be dismissed as a prank. “This incident is not a foolish college prank and will not be treated as such,” Fitzpatrick said. “It will be treated for what it is, a crime directed against a group of Jewish students enjoying a celebratory dinner and seemingly secure in their residence.”
University and Community Response
The university condemned the act, calling it “abhorrent” and “shocking to the conscience.” Allen Groves, Syracuse’s chief student experience officer, said the incident violated the school’s values of inclusivity and safety. He confirmed both students were referred to the Office of Community Standards for possible disciplinary action under the Student Conduct Code.
“Tonight’s incident, as reported to us, is abhorrent, shocking to the conscience and violates our core value of being a place that is truly welcoming to all,” Groves wrote in a message to the campus community. “It will not be tolerated at Syracuse University.”
The arrests followed a consultation between university police and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors stressed that the charges reflect not just the intrusion but also the religious and cultural targeting involved.
Zeta Beta Tau, founded as a Jewish fraternity, remains closely tied to Jewish traditions and culture. The act of tossing pork into the house during Rosh Hashanah, a holiday that marks renewal and reflection, was seen by Jewish leaders as an intentional act of disrespect and intimidation.
As the case proceeds, university officials, prosecutors, and community leaders have vowed accountability, stressing that Syracuse will not tolerate hate-motivated crimes on campus.