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A Heinous Report from East Lansing

More on the Michigan State student who allegedly suffered a hate crime

by
Adam Chandler
August 28, 2012
Tennen in recovery(Detroit Free Press/courtesy)
Tennen in recovery(Detroit Free Press/courtesy)

Allegations of a horrifying anti-Semitic attack on a Michigan State University student this past weekend are starting to take clearer form today. The student, Zachary Tennen, who is 19-years-old, got out of surgery last night after his jaw was fractured in two places at an off-campus party.

Tennen and his family claim he is the victim of a hate crime, detailing how two men allegedly approached him at a party and asked him if he was Jewish. When he responded affirmatively, the two men began making anti-Semitic remarks including “Heil Hitler” and giving the Nazi salute before one of the men knocked Tennen unconscious. The two men reportedly also stapled his mouth shut. According to Tennen, he was able to flag a cab to the hospital.

In an interview with the State News, MSU’s campus newspaper, Zachary Tennen said, “I’m really, really upset in a few ways; First of all, it is a terrible experience, physically and also mentally to know someone would do something like this.”

The family is reporting that Tennen is recovering now and that the school and the police have been responsive. As details emerge, we’ll keep you posted on this story, which will hopefully include swift justice against the alleged assailants. In the meantime, this is a stark reminder of what anti-Semitism looks like–worse than can be imagined.

Adam Chandler was previously a staff writer at Tablet. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Slate, Esquire, New York, and elsewhere. He tweets @allmychandler.