“Epstein Hall” was spray-painted on the pavement outside Kerrey Hall around 11 p.m. last night, according to a source claiming responsibility. The person said the graffiti was likely cleared a few hours later.

“They have not caught me and I don’t intend on being caught,” the person said. They provided information to the New School Free Press on the condition of anonymity due to legal repercussions. “I am going to keep pressuring the school to remove Bob Kerrey’s name off the whole institution until they do so.”

Campus Safety would not answer the New School Free Press’ questions about the graffiti. They directed NSFP to university communications instead. Amy Malsin, vice president of university communications, confirmed that the individual has not been identified yet, but said “a report was filed with Campus Safety”. 

Kerrey Hall is named after former university President Bob Kerrey and opened in fall 2013.

The New School Free Press found earlier this week that Kerrey arranged to meet with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein at least five times between 2013 and 2014, according to files released by the Department of Justice.

As Kerrey was employed by the university until the end of the 2012-2013 academic year, at least three of the meetings were arranged by a New School employee, according to the files.

Kerrey told NSFP he did not remember any interactions with Epstein, except a lunch on Feb. 22, 2013 with Epstein and Stephen Kosslyn, an established academic and psychologist. Kerrey said they hoped Epstein would make a donation to Minerva University, which Kerrey and Kosslyn were helping develop at the time.

Kerrey was controversial while serving as university president from 2001 to 2010. He received a vote of no confidence from faculty in 2008. In addition, faculty and students repeatedly called for his resignation — through two student-led occupations, following his support of the Iraq war, after the release of documents confirming his involvement in the Thanh Phong raid during the Vietnam War, and  because of his alleged controlling management style.

Kerrey stepped down as president in 2010 and again as president emeritus in January 2013. He remained at the university as a consultant until the end of the 2012-2013 academic year. Kerrey played a major role in the construction of the University Center, which opened in January 2014. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as The New School Free Press continues to report this breaking news story.