BOONE, N.C. -- Appalachian State students were welcomed back to campus after Easter weekend by disturbing signs.
One of the signs read, “Genocide always serves a higher person.” The other included a picture of a swastika and graphic images of Holocaust victims.
Charlotte father Matt Coben, whose family is Jewish, said his daughter is a student at the school and sent him the pictures out of fear.
“You’re not sure what’s going on, but it feels threatening,” said Coben. “She was scared and frightened and went to talk to a police officer.
NBC Charlotte contacted Appalachian State officials about the group behind the signs. A university spokesperson told NBC Charlotte a pro-life organization called Center for Bio- Ethical Reform posted the signs on Monday and removed them from campus on Thursday.
The group is not affiliated with the university, but because App State is a public institution, school officials said the group has the right to express freedom of speech anywhere on campus.
“There’s need to be some code of conduct in that environment to say this is okay to display, and this is not,” said Coben.
University officials said the group followed the process other non-campus affiliated groups are expected to follow when having a presence in public spaces on campus.