NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Rutgers University is investigating an incident in which a student-run satirical newspaper published an article headlined “What About the Good Things Hitler Did?” and falsely attributed it to a Jewish student.
The student, Aaron Marcus, did not write the article and said he cannot believe the paper would use his name and photograph alongside such a piece, satirical or not.
“To say anything praiseworthy of someone like Hitler, and to have people actually believe it was coming from me even in a satirical manner is just really painful for me and my family,” Marcus told myFOXny.com.
The article was published in the student-funded Daily Medium newspaper at the university in New Brunswick, N.J. The article included lines like “give Hitler a little thanks.”
“I’m a firm believer in freedom of speech, but I’m not a firm believer in impersonation and libel,” Marcus said.
Marcus said his relatives were survivors of the Holocaust and he has previously spoken out about what he has called an anti-Semitic environment on campus.
Rutgers’ President Richard McCormick issued a statement saying, “Federal courts extend broad protection to student media. However, a recent article in the Medium, purporting to be written by student Aaron Marcus and using Mr. Marcus’ photograph, is extremely offensive and repugnant.
“No individual student should be subject to such a vicious, provocative and hurtful piece, regardless of whether First Amendment protections apply to such expression. The Medium’s article was particularly despicable in light of Mr. Marcus’ Jewish faith.
“Rutgers University is investigating the incident as a bias incident under the university’s anti-bias policies.”
Marcus is seeking legal advice over the article.