Demand Accountability At Temple University
The Issue
On September 16, 2021, while a freshman at Temple University, Sasha Westrick received a text message from her roommate stating “I hate Jews” (See picture attached). Sasha, a member of the Temple Rowing team, went immediately to her coach and the athletic department’s psychotherapist, making them aware of the text and asking for a room change. This request fell on deaf ears as there was no further conversation about the text and she continued to remain in her room while being subjected to constant harassment, anti-Semitic remarks, and ongoing verbal abuse.
On October 9, 2021, Dr. Amy Westrick, Sasha’s mother, called the residential director, Charlie Lafer, at 1300 Cecil B Moore dormitory, and demanded that her daughter’s room be changed immediately. The Diversity department was also contacted regarding the incident along with Student Conduct and Community Standards.
The week of October 18, 2021, and filed a no-contact order against Sasha and on October 21, 2021, Sasha went to the Temple police department who did their own investigation, and found the roommate,, guilty of a hate incident and harassment. Temple University, despite the police efforts, still did nothing!
On October 21, 2021, the NCAA was contacted due to the lackadaisical attitude of the coach and athletic community. On October 27, 2021, the University was sent a legal representation letter from Attorney Testa demanding action. The University advised Attorney Testa that they needed time to do their own investigation.
On December 20, 2021, a hearing was held, finding guilty of sending the text, "I hate Jews".
My daughter wanted to be made aware of punishment but was told this information would not be given to due to privacy rules.
Since then, is back on campus and on the rowing team which my daughter was also a member of but now feels too uncomfortable returning.
Last week, one of the rowers posted about what happened with my daughter on Instagram which set off a firestorm of responses mainly in support of my daughter's well-being, others said it was a lie.
The Temple rowing coach, due to the exposure, held a meeting stating that the text the rower wrote was 90% untrue, basically supporting the person being found guilty of hate speech.
At this point, my daughter is afraid to go back to campus. Sasha is now in counseling, suffers from depression, and has little enjoyment in attending a University where an untenable situation was allowed to flourish and go unpunished.
has since left the team on her own accord. It has taken five months for this issue to be taken seriously and still we have yet to learn what disciplinary action was taken if any.
At this time we want a copy of the 71-page investigation and information on the disciplinary action made regarding this incident.
The question posed is simply, “is a person of the Jewish faith protected by the same laws and entitled to the same civil rights as other entities on the Temple University campus”?
The Issue
On September 16, 2021, while a freshman at Temple University, Sasha Westrick received a text message from her roommate stating “I hate Jews” (See picture attached). Sasha, a member of the Temple Rowing team, went immediately to her coach and the athletic department’s psychotherapist, making them aware of the text and asking for a room change. This request fell on deaf ears as there was no further conversation about the text and she continued to remain in her room while being subjected to constant harassment, anti-Semitic remarks, and ongoing verbal abuse.
On October 9, 2021, Dr. Amy Westrick, Sasha’s mother, called the residential director, Charlie Lafer, at 1300 Cecil B Moore dormitory, and demanded that her daughter’s room be changed immediately. The Diversity department was also contacted regarding the incident along with Student Conduct and Community Standards.
The week of October 18, 2021, and filed a no-contact order against Sasha and on October 21, 2021, Sasha went to the Temple police department who did their own investigation, and found the roommate,, guilty of a hate incident and harassment. Temple University, despite the police efforts, still did nothing!
On October 21, 2021, the NCAA was contacted due to the lackadaisical attitude of the coach and athletic community. On October 27, 2021, the University was sent a legal representation letter from Attorney Testa demanding action. The University advised Attorney Testa that they needed time to do their own investigation.
On December 20, 2021, a hearing was held, finding guilty of sending the text, "I hate Jews".
My daughter wanted to be made aware of punishment but was told this information would not be given to due to privacy rules.
Since then, is back on campus and on the rowing team which my daughter was also a member of but now feels too uncomfortable returning.
Last week, one of the rowers posted about what happened with my daughter on Instagram which set off a firestorm of responses mainly in support of my daughter's well-being, others said it was a lie.
The Temple rowing coach, due to the exposure, held a meeting stating that the text the rower wrote was 90% untrue, basically supporting the person being found guilty of hate speech.
At this point, my daughter is afraid to go back to campus. Sasha is now in counseling, suffers from depression, and has little enjoyment in attending a University where an untenable situation was allowed to flourish and go unpunished.
has since left the team on her own accord. It has taken five months for this issue to be taken seriously and still we have yet to learn what disciplinary action was taken if any.
At this time we want a copy of the 71-page investigation and information on the disciplinary action made regarding this incident.
The question posed is simply, “is a person of the Jewish faith protected by the same laws and entitled to the same civil rights as other entities on the Temple University campus”?
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Petition created on January 21, 2022