Racial graffiti left on URI dorms

KINGSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - University of Rhode Island students and campus police are outraged after someone vandalized school property, leaving behind racist remarks in three separate incidents.

According to The University of Rhode Island campus police, Eric Muroski, 18, was arrested last Tuesday and charged in one of the cases.

They said on Oct. 21 he wrote racial remarks and other lewd comments on the dry erase board outside a Heathman Hall dorm room where three black women lived.

"We looked at our door and saw the word was written on our door," said Samantha DeFalco, the roommate of the three women. "They were screaming and completely take off-guard because I don't think they ever expected it to happen. They were really upset about it."

Campus police said the incident happened after the three woman had a confrontation with a group of white women.

It's the third similar incident on campus in a matter of weeks.

In one instance, police said someone drew anti-Semitic words and symbols in the bathroom of Adams Hall. In another, anti-Semitic graffiti was also found outside Merrow Hall.

No arrests have been made in those cases.

University officials sent out e-mail alerts and posted signs to inform students about the vandalism. They also held a meeting Wednesday on hate crime strategies.

In the meantime, campus police have referred Muroski's case to the Attorney General's Office as a possible hate crime.

Anyone with information on the other acts of vandalism is urged to call campus police.