Racial graffiti discovered at Radnor High

Radnor High School held a student assembly Thursday to address an incident involving racial graffiti discovered in a bathroom, the principal said in an e-mail to parents.

Mark Schellenger wrote that school officials were investigating the incident. The graffiti was discovered Wednesday, photographed, and removed. The school said it would reach out to the NAACP and Anti-Defamation League for input.

"Radnor High School and the district as a whole condemn any and all messages that promote hate and intolerance," Schellenger wrote. "I will reiterate that messages or behavior of this sort are unacceptable and will not be tolerated."

Michael Pettitti, district spokesman, said the school had no comment beyond the letter.

When contacted by The Inquirer, NAACP and ADL representatives said it was important for the school to bring the incident to light and inform the community.

Racial graffiti in an educational institution could constitute a hate crime, and police should be called to investigate, said Radnor Police Superintendent William Colarulo. He said he was not aware of the contents or nature of the graffiti. "We were not notified," Colarulo said. - Mari A. Schaefer