{
  "id": "2023-10-25-lehigh-university-bias-incident-packer-ave-near-neville-hall",
  "slug": "lehigh-university-bias-incident-packer-ave-near-neville-hall-2023-10-25",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Lehigh University",
    "shortName": "Lehigh",
    "state": "PA",
    "type": "private-r2",
    "alertSystemName": "HawkWatch",
    "enrollment": 7500
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2023-10-25",
    "type": "hate-crime",
    "cleryCategory": "timely-warning",
    "resolution": "under-investigation",
    "headline": "Bias incident timely warning for Packer Ave near Neville Hall",
    "headlinePublic": "Bias incident timely warning for Packer Ave near Neville Hall",
    "summary": "Lehigh University Police [issued a HawkWatch timely warning](https://lehigh.apparmor.com/Notifications/CAP/?id=130317). Full text is preserved from the official AppArmor CAP alert page.",
    "outcome": "See official HawkWatch alert for investigation status and safety guidance.",
    "casualties": {
      "killed": 0,
      "injured": 0
    }
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "channel": "multi-channel",
      "verbatimText": "A Timely Warning is being issued in connection to a bias incident reported by a Lehigh student to the university at approximately 4:45 pm this afternoon, which was shared with the Lehigh University Police Department this evening.\n\nThe Lehigh student, who self-identified as a hijabi, reported that she was walking on Packer Ave near Neville Hall around 1:30 p.m. when she was hit by a crumpled piece of paper from the back. The student was unable to see the person who threw the paper, but it contained a printed message describing Hamas as a terrorist organization, which the student interpreted as harassment because she wore a hijab.\n\nThe Lehigh University Police Department is investigating and is in communication with the student who reported this incident. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Campus Safety/Lehigh University Police Department at (610) 758-4200.\n\nReporting Resources\n\nFaculty, staff, and students who experience or witness bias, harassment or discrimination are encouraged to promptly report such conduct and access resources and support by reaching out to the Equal Opportunity Compliance Coordinator (https://eocc.lehigh.edu/contact-us), reporting incidents through Lehigh's web-based reporting form (https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?LehighUniv&layout_id=30) or by contacting the Lehigh University Police Department at (610) 758-4200 or through the HawkWatch app (https://www1.lehigh.edu/emergency/prepared/hawkwatchapp).\n\nMore reporting resources: https://www1.lehigh.edu/about/report-a-concern\n\nLast week, in a message to the campus community, President Helble said: \"The news media has reported that anti-Semitism and Islamophobia may increase across the country, and as I have spoken to our students and to leaders in our communities, I have heard these concerns echoed repeatedly. With the terrible uncertainty of the days ahead, it is crucial that we extend our empathy toward one another.\"\n\nThe safety of our students is our number one priority and the university does not tolerate acts of hate, discrimination, harassment or retaliation in any form against or by any Lehigh community member. This treatment of a Lehigh student is appalling and clearly violates our Principles of Equitable Community (https://www2.lehigh.edu/diversity-inclusion-equity/principles-equitable-community). This is unacceptable behavior.\n\nSupport Resources\n\nAnyone in the Lehigh community who is impacted or who may be feeling unsafe or experiencing anxiety or stress regarding this incident, recent events in the news or other issues is encouraged to take advantage of the university's counseling services.\n\nThe University Counseling and Psychological Services (UCPS) office, located in Johnson Hall, can be reached at 610-758-3880 (https://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/content/counseling-psychological-services-ucps).\n\nUndergraduate and graduate students also may speak with a licensed clinical professional through TELUS Health Student Support (formerly myspp.app), which is available remotely 24/7 in multiple languages (https://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/content/telus-health-student-support).\n\nResources for faculty and staff can be accessed through the Employee Assistance Program (https://hr.lehigh.edu/benefits/EAP).\n\nJason Schiffer\n\nAVP Campus Safety\n\nLehigh University Police Department\n\n                AppArmor\n\n                A Rave Mobile Safety Company",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://lehigh.apparmor.com/Notifications/CAP/?id=130317",
      "sourceDescription": "Lehigh HawkWatch / AppArmor CAP timely warning",
      "annotations": [
        "Transcribed from official lehigh.apparmor.com CAP notification page."
      ],
      "characterCount": 3407,
      "confidence": "high",
      "timestampApprox": "Alert sent Wednesday, October 25, 2023 11:02 PM"
    }
  ],
  "context": "Lehigh University HawkWatch AppArmor CAP archive preserves full notification text.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Official HawkWatch CAP page preserves complete timely-warning narrative text."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "type": "official-archive",
      "title": "Timely Warning: Bias Incident",
      "url": "https://lehigh.apparmor.com/Notifications/CAP/?id=130317",
      "accessDate": "2026-07-25"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "lehigh",
    "hawkwatch",
    "timely-warning",
    "bias",
    "hate-crime"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-07-25",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-25",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}