PORTLAND (AP) — Officials at the University of Southern Maine are investigating graffiti found in student senate offices that appears to express anti-Muslim sentiment.
The Latin phrase “Deus Vult,” which means “God Wills It,” was found on a desk and a wall. The phrase was a rallying cry for Christians during the Crusades and has more recently been adopted by alt-right political activists as an anti-Muslim insult.
University spokesman Bob Stein told the Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/2fh2t6B ) the incident is being investigated by campus security and a team from the office of the dean of students is investigating.
USM student body vice president Matt Raymond says the graffiti is an “act of criminal intimidation.” He believes it is a reaction to Muslim students asking for applications to Student Government to become senators.
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