Officials at the University of Southern Maine are investigating what they say is anti-Muslim graffiti found in a student government office at the Campus Center in Portland.
The Latin phrase "Deus Vult," which means "God Wills It," 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.
“USM is the most diverse campus in Maine and we’re very proud of that and celebrate it so, when something like this happens, it’s something we want to address and respond to as quickly as we can and as best we can because this is not who were are,” says university spokesman Bob Stein.
USM student body vice president Matt Raymond tells the Portland Press Herald that 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.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
