UNF student posts anti-Semitic and white supremacist QR codes across campus

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A University of North Florida student is currently being investigated after they allegedly posted QR codes around campus that, when scanned, would link to anti-Semitic and white supremacy material.

According to the incident report, eight QR code stickers were put up around UNF’s Social Sciences and Biological Sciences buildings on campus. The stickers had the caption, “Want to know why society is nuts? Scan and Listen.” The stickers were reported by a UNF Professor on March 29.

Rabbi Shmuli Novack, the Director of Chabad of UNF, says that they were alerted of the incident once the University Police Department became aware of the QR codes.

“UPD Chief Frank Mackesy reached out to make us aware that there was an incident of these QR codes being posted on campus and these codes would lead anyone scanning them to a website that hosted white supremacist and anti-Semitic materials. I think by the time they actually tracked down the QR codes the web host had already removed the offensive materials, so it wasn’t even it wasn’t listed anymore,” Novack said. “But nonetheless, this was obviously very disconcerting to us. It’s an app for intact and for someone to be spreading the hate is certainly not what we want in our community.”

Novack says that it was a student who posted the codes around billboards on campus. In a statement Chabad of UNF posted online, the student is allegedly being investigated by the University and being assessed for disciplinary action.

When asked, a spokesperson from UNF said that the person responsible has been identified and it was determined that there is no additional threat to the campus community. Due to the federal FERPA law, UNF is prohibited from releasing any additional information.

“The University of North Florida wholeheartedly rejects hate in all its forms,” a spokesperson from the University said. “We remain extremely committed to providing a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment on our campus for all students, faculty and staff regardless of race, ethnicity, faith, national origin, range of abilities, sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Novack told WOKV that while anti-Semitism is always a concern, he does not believe anyone was specifically threatened and UNF is a safe place for all students.

“Our students are certainly very, very concerned about anti-Semitism. And when they hear anything about it on campus, it’s something that can cause anxiety and stress. And so it’s important that we’re up in front of it. We talk about it and we have students who are reaching out just to discuss it and just to kind of have their thoughts expressed and heard.,” Novack said. “The university is a place with a diversity of people and a diversity of opinions, but it’s it’s imperative that we show respect to one another and that we do not allow hatred to make its way into our campus.”

Cox Media Group