NYU student draws hate crime charges for flying flag with swastikas, Star of David over campus building

JTA – A New York University (NYU) student is facing hate crime charges for allegedly raising a flag depicting a Star of David, two swastikas ,and the letters “NYU” over a university building during commencement last month. 

Alexander Stepnowsky, 23, of Fairfield, Connecticut, was arrested on Tuesday 2 June on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and charged with one count of hate crime burglary, two counts of aggravated harassment, and one count of criminal trespassing in a hate crime, according to the New York City Police Department (NYPD). 

A NYU spokesperson said Stepnowsky would also face discipline from the university. 

“The university cooperated fully with the NYPD. We are grateful for its exhaustive work and for the efforts of the Manhattan District Attorney in identifying the person responsible for this heinous crime. The symbols that were represented are antisemitic and hateful to every person of conscience; this appalling act violated our sense of community and solidarity,” said the spokesperson, Wiley Norvell. “In addition to criminal proceedings, we will immediately pursue our disciplinary procedures, which carry the most severe consequences.” 

The arrest comes as NYU has faced heightened scrutiny over antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric on its campus in recent years. In 2024, the school revised its hate speech policy to define slurs against “Zionists” as potentially in violation of its harassment code. During this year’s commencement, the school withheld the diploma of a student who used his address to accuse Israel of “genocide”. 

The flag depicting the swastikas flew briefly over the roof of NYU’s Steinhardt building, named for the major Jewish philanthropists Michael and Judy Steinhardt, during the school’s commencement on 13 May. 

Michael Steinhardt is a co-founder of Birthright, the organisation that underwrites free trips to Israel for young Jewish adults. 

Stepnowsky pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Wednesday 3 June and was released without bail, according to CBS News. 

The office of Stepnowsky’s lawyer, Vickie Mwitanti, declined to comment.