At Harvard, ‘Jews need not apply’

Harvard University students living on campus on Friday morning woke up to discover that flyers with anti-Semitic content had been slid under their doors.

The satirical fliers, invitations to join “The Pigeon, Harvard’s Newest Finals Club,” were headlined with the words “inclusion,” diversity,” and “love,” with the footnotes “Jews need not apply,” “Seriously, no fucking Jews. Coloreds OK,” and “Rophynol” — an apparent misspelling of Rohypnol, a sedative that has been designated as a date-rape drug.

The Harvard Crimson reported that administrators had launched an investigation. The dean of Harvard College, Evelynn M. Hammonds, denounced the flyers.

“As Dean of the College, and as an educator, I find these flyers offensive. They are not a reflection of the values of our community,” Hammonds wrote in an email.

“Even if intended as satirical in nature, they are hurtful and offensive to many students, faculty and staff, and do not demonstrate the level of thoughtfulness and respect we expect at Harvard when engaging difficult issues within our community.”