Connecticut College President Katherine Bergeron has ordered a review of the school's social media policies and an update of how bias incidents are handled after students protested a professor's Facebook post comparing Gaza Strip to a "rabid pit bull." 
 
 Andrew Pessin, a philosophy professor at the New London college, posted in August that Gaza is in a cage "because of its repeated efforts to destroy Israel and Jews." He took to Facebook during the seven-week war between Israel and Hamas. 
 
 He apologized, said he referred to the Hamas rulers and not Palestinians and removed the post. 
 
 Bergeron did not denounce Pessin or his Facebook statement. She said he and his critics have a right to free speech. 
 
 Students criticized Bergeron for failing to do more to condemn the professor and his comments. 
 
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 Copyright Associated Press ||||| Connecticut College was closed Monday while administrators led a campus-wide conversation about racism and hate-related issues on campus. 
 
 It comes a day after racially charged graffiti was found in the bathrooms of the Crozier-Williams building at the private college in New London. 
 
 Photos shared with NBC Connecticut show writing on a bathroom wall that says "No" followed by the plural form of the "N" word. The graffiti has been removed and administrators are investigating, trying to figure out who is responsible. 
 
 It's not the only recent controversy on campus. At least 500 people signed a change.org petition calling for college president Katherine Bergeron to condemn a philosophy professor's Facebook post saying Gaza is like a pit bull kept in a cage "because of its repeated efforts to destroy Israel and Jews." 
 
 Racist Graffiti Found in Connecticut College Bathrooms 
 
 Racist graffiti was found in Connecticut College bathrooms. (Published Monday, March 30, 2015) 
 
 "...one thing has become extremely clear: the level of harm that incendiary language can have on a community. The post caused an outpouring of anger and pain among many different groups of students, faculty, and staff. The groundswell of reaction makes it clear that the issue goes far beyond the effects of a single post. It is about who we are as a community," Bergeron wrote in a letter to the students on Sunday. 
 
 She stressed that Connecticut College "values the dignity of all people" and said the campus "must take action immediately to expose and eradicate this ignorance and hatred." 
 
 "As your president, I will not tolerate forms of racist or hateful speech designed to demean, denigrate, or dehumanize," she said. "Even though speech may be protected does not mean that we have to approve of the odious things that people choose to say with their freedom. I do not approve. It does mean, though, that we can and should use our freedom to speak out against injustice." 
 
 Video Racist Graffiti Found Scrawled in Connecticut College Bathrooms 
 
 This is not the first time students have gathered in the past few weeks to address their concerns. 
 
 "So many of you have come together in the last weeks and days — and even this afternoon and evening — to do that. It has given me a new sense of hope," Bergeron said. "I am writing to say that I stand with you. Now I ask you to work with me in making Connecticut College a place that we are proud to call our home." 
 
 Bergeron said she planned to talk to the students about strengthening the college community and improving school climate. A campus-wide meeting was slated for Monday night. Bergeron will also open her door Tuesday to anyone who wants to speak with her about the issues. 
 
 Officials said that staff members for the Offices of Student Life and the Dean of the College will be available to provide support to students who have concerns. 
 
 Deborah MacDonnell, the director of public relations at Connecticut College, called the graffiti "antithetical to the values of the College" and the incident is under investigation.
– There are no classes today at New London's Connecticut College, but it's not for a holiday or snow day. Instead, events to eliminate what President Katherine Bergeron calls "this ignorance and hatred" have been planned after racist graffiti was found scrawled in bathroom stalls yesterday at the college's student center, the AP reports. Bergeron sent a letter out to students last night informing them of the cancellations, writing "we must take action immediately" and that "I have decided to cancel tomorrow's classes to ensure these events receive the proper attention," NBC News Connecticut reports. That attention includes holding a campus-wide meeting tonight and scheduling tomorrow as an informal "open door" session where students can approach her with concerns, the station notes. The graffiti found in the Crozier-Williams building reportedly contained the word "No" followed by the plural version of the n-word (NBC notes it viewed photos of the writing, which reportedly has already been erased); campus officials are still investigating to find out who's responsible. The incident comes on the heels a hubbub last week, when students at the college were angered by a professor's Facebook post that compared the Gaza Strip to a "rabid pit bull," per NBC. "One thing has become extremely clear: the level of harm that incendiary language can have on a community," Bergeron wrote in last night's letter. "As your president, I will not tolerate forms of racist or hateful speech designed to demean, denigrate, or dehumanize. Even though speech may be protected does not mean that we have to approve of the odious things that people choose to say with their freedom."