"No Jews" party invitation at Savannah College of Art and Design sparks outrage

A disturbing hoax party invitation featuring anti-Semitic messaging has ignited outrage at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), prompting swift responses from community leaders and Jewish organizations. The offensive content, discovered by the watchdog group StopAntisemitism, appeared in Snapchat stories tagged “SCAD 2028.” The images showed a poster on a table promoting a supposed party at “The Hive,” SCAD’s dormitory and café complex near West Oglethorpe Avenue. The poster’s list of items to bring was arranged in micrographic form to spell out “No Jews,” a blatant anti-Semitic message that alarmed Jewish students and the broader Savannah community.

SCAD officials promptly investigated, determining that the individual responsible, identified as Ryan Dahl, a former student, was no longer enrolled. The university found no evidence of an actual party targeting Jewish students, confirming the invitation as a hoax. Despite this, the incident raised significant concerns, especially given the broader context of rising antisemitic incidents nationwide, as reported by the Anti-Defamation League, which noted a surge in such cases last year, often linked to protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.

The Savannah Jewish Federation condemned the act, stating on Instagram, “It has been brought to our attention that an invitation to a party at SCAD, circulated yesterday, specified, ‘No Jews.’ This blatant antisemitism is unacceptable.” They are collaborating with SCAD and police to address the issue, prioritizing “the welfare of the Jewish community” and advocating for “appropriate disciplinary measures, and education to ensure non-Jewish students understand the nature and history of antisemitism.”

Chabad of Savannah echoed this sentiment, posting, “We are deeply disturbed and saddened by the antisemitic incident that occurred at SCAD where a party invitation stated that no Jews were welcome.” Rabbi Zalman Refson, co-director of Chabad, clarified, “There was no party,” suggesting the act was either a deliberate expression of disdain or a possible mental health episode. SCAD Hillel added, “We are proud as the Jewish community of SCAD and will not feel safe if nothing is done.”

Dahl issued an apology, but reactions varied, with some questioning its sincerity. The incident has galvanized support for Jewish students, with community gatherings at Chabad and calls for increased education on antisemitism to prevent future occurrences.