San Jose State University is investigating the assault of a Sikh student on campus as a possible hate crime, after the incident sparked alarm among students and local faith communities.
The attack reportedly took place near MacQuarrie Hall at about 12.45am on 7 February. Campus police say a group of five individuals, believed to be non-students, confronted and assaulted the student. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses. No arrests have been announced.
Student leaders say the victim was targeted because of his visible religious identity. According to Hasmeet Kaur, president of the university’s Sikh Collegiate Federation, the attackers forced the student to the ground and removed his dastaar — a Sikh turban regarded as a sacred article of faith. She said she had viewed mobile phone footage of the incident recorded by another student, though the video has not been released publicly.
Kaur alleged the attackers repeatedly referred to the victim as Hindu during the assault, misidentifying his faith. The error was also echoed in an initial campus-wide communication. In a subsequent statement, Kathryn Kaoudis, the university’s Vice President for Administration and Finance, acknowledged the mistake, saying the institution “misidentified the student as Hindu instead of Sikh” and accepted responsibility for the harm caused.
In a formal statement, the university condemned the attack, stating that “hate crimes are evil acts that harm entire communities and have no place in our community”. Officials said they are reviewing campus safety measures, including the possible installation of additional cameras, and assessing support services for affected students.
The assault has prompted calls for accountability and reform. A town hall meeting drew students, community members and the victim’s family. Harshdep Singh, the student’s brother, described the attack as traumatic but said the family was grateful he was safe. He also urged authorities to strengthen their response.
The Sikh Collegiate Federation plans to present a list of demands to university leaders, including cultural sensitivity training and Sikh awareness programmes aimed at preventing similar incidents.
Leaders from a local Hindu temple have also alerted their community, noting that the attackers appeared to conflate Sikh and Hindu identities. Both Sikh and Hindu organisations have encouraged visibly observant students to report any threats or harassment.
Federal data show that bias-motivated crimes against religious minorities remain a concern nationwide. According to the most recent reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sikhs continue to be among the most frequently targeted religious groups in hate crime statistics, while anti-Hindu incidents have also risen in recent years. Civil rights advocates caution that official figures likely underestimate the true scale of the problem due to underreporting.
The reported assault follows other bias-related incidents near MacQuarrie Hall. In November 2025, racist graffiti and a written threat referencing a potential mass shooting were discovered in a campus bathroom, prompting heightened security and temporary class disruptions.
University officials say previous reviews of hate-crime allegations have led to changes in reporting and response procedures. The investigation into the 7 February assault remains ongoing.
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