U of Rochester students arraigned over “Wanted” posters

Four University of Rochester students have been arraigned in connection to an incident in which they allegedly hung “Wanted” posters on campus that depicted faculty members who they said support Israel’s war in Gaza, The Democrat and Chronicle reported.

The charges—second-degree criminal mischief, which is a felony—are related to damage to the institution’s walls as a result of the adhesive used to attach the posters, rather than the content of the posters themselves. The university’s Hillel chapter previously criticized the posters for apparently targeting Jewish professors—although pro-Palestine student groups argue that not all of the faculty depicted were Jewish—and for perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

In addition to the criminal case, which could result in up to $5,000 in fines and up to seven years in prison, the students will undergo the university’s conduct process.

Many students and faculty showed up at the arraignment to support the accused students. One student told the Democrat and Chronicle he thought the university was overreacting to the situation: “I think the students understand how insane this all is, how unprecedented the university’s response has been and how they’ve been blatantly lying in their emails,” he said.