Steinhardt community member arrested for raising swastika flag during Grad Alley

Alexander Stepnowsky, a Steinhardt senior at New York University (NYU), was arrested on June 3 for raising a blue flag bearing two swastikas and the Star of David on the Steinhardt building during NYU’s Grad Alley event in May. Police confirmed via surveillance footage that Stepnowsky attached the flag—marked with 'NYU'—to a flagpole on the West Fourth Street building, entering the premises unlawfully. Stepnowsky, who studied music technology, pleaded not guilty at his June 4 court appearance and was released without bail ahead of his August hearing. He was charged with aggravated harassment, hate crime burglary, and criminal trespassing. NYU’s spokesperson, Wiley Norvell, stated the university fully cooperated with the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force and will pursue disciplinary measures, including severe consequences for violating anti-harassment policies. NYU President Linda Mills, Provost Georgina Dopico, and campus safety head Fountain Walker issued a university-wide memo barring Stepnowsky from campus. Administrators are working with NYU’s Center for the Study of Antisemitism to prevent future antisemitic incidents. Stepnowsky reportedly told police he acted due to frustration with NYU’s perceived ties to Israel’s political issues. The university’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment policies prohibit displays of derogatory materials related to protected characteristics, including religion. This follows a 2025 incident where a Gallatin graduate’s diploma was withheld after antisemitic remarks in a commencement speech. Steinhardt Dean Jack Knott emphasized in a community email that the flag incident was 'hateful, harmful, and inconsistent with NYU’s values.'