Former NYU student arrested after Nazi-symbol banner sparks hate-crime probe during graduation week.”
A 23-year-old New York University alumnus has been arrested after allegedly placing an antisemitic banner featuring Nazi symbols and a Star of David on top of a campus building during commencement festivities.
The suspect, identified in reports as Alexander Stepnowsky, faces charges including burglary, aggravated harassment, and criminal trespass as a hate crime. Police say the banner was raised on May 13 above NYU’s Steinhardt building in Greenwich Village during graduation-related events.
According to police descriptions, the banner appeared to mimic the Israeli flag but included two swastikas, the NYU logo, and a Star of David. The targeted building houses NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and is named after Jewish benefactors Michael and Judy Steinhardt.
Investigators reportedly used surveillance footage to place the suspect inside the building and on the rooftop at the time the banner was displayed. Authorities also said he accessed the premises using his personal NYU electronic credential.
The university filed a hate-crime harassment complaint after the incident and praised the NYPD and Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for identifying the person allegedly responsible.
NYU condemned the act in strong terms, calling the symbols antisemitic and hateful. The university said it would pursue internal disciplinary procedures in addition to the criminal case, with officials warning that the consequences could be severe.
The suspect was released following a brief court appearance because the charges are not bail-eligible under New York law. He has reportedly pleaded not guilty.
The incident comes amid continuing concern over antisemitism on US campuses following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. In July 2024, NYU settled a lawsuit brought by Jewish students who accused the university of failing to adequately address antisemitism on campus.
