Tiles featuring 'troubling' swastikas removed from Indiana University after 102 years
Tiles featuring the image of a swastika have been removed from inside an Indiana University 102 years after they were installed in 1917. The symbol, which has held many meanings over the course of history, was formally adopted by the Nazi Party in 1920.
While the swastika tiles featured an explanation of the symbol's history for many years beside them, and were included with symbols from different cultures, the decision was made to remove the tiles from the Indiana University School of Public Health's classroom after repeated complaints. The tiles, originally in the first IU Men’s Gymnasium, have been taken down and will be sanded before they are replaced, according to the Indy Star.
Indiana University is removing swastika tiles from the walls of a campus building. They were installed in 1917 and IU has a plaque explaining the symbol’s history. Now, they’re being taken down. Statement from IU spokesperson in photos. @WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/EWTIjKYI21
— Jennie Runevitch (@JennieWTHR) July 9, 2019
An IU spokesperson told WTHR, "When installed in 1917, the designs on the tiles had been in use for thousands of years as signs of good health and in association with a number of Eastern religions. All that changed with World War II, and while an explanation of the symbol’s history has been posted near the tiles for many years, a symbol so fraught with such a troubling message overpowers the history. Since that history can be taught in ways that do not require exposing students and visitors to the troubling symbol, it will be removed from the tiles."
"It could be very offensive to people affected by the Holocaust so I see why they'd take it down," incoming IU freshman Samantha Perez told the station.
"The visual, it's shocking for sure," School of Public Health faculty member Bill Ramos said, adding that it feels like the proper time to remove the tiles. "I ... think we're in a heightened state of awareness with culture competency and sensitivity toward cultural issues."
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