The University of Miami police are investigating the drawing of a Nazi swastika on campus.

The swastika was found Tuesday on a wall of the men's restroom near the Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies in the Merrick Building.

School officials reported the hate crime to campus police, who launched an investigation.

UM President Donna Shalala denounced the act in a statement issued Thursday.

``Defacement of university property is a crime and to do so with this symbol of hatred, which is offensive to all of us, is a despicable and cowardly act,'' she wrote. ``There is no place in our community for bigotry and intolerance. I condemn these acts in the strongest of terms on behalf of the University,'' The incident marked the second time in nearly a year a swastika has been spray-painted near the Judaic studies building.

The American Jewish Committee said it was appalled by the latest incident and called for UM to do ``everything in their power to hold accountable those responsible,'' said Brian Siegal, AJC Miami office director.

``It is truly disturbing that someone would make such a hateful statement, even more so on a college campus adjacent to the Jewish Studies Center,'' Siegal said.

The Anti-Defamation League condemned the act and sent a letter to Shalala praising her ``swift action.'' ``While some might think that the posting of a swastika in a restroom is trivial, symbols of hate and anti-Semitism must be repudiated in all forms,'' said Andrew Rosenkranz, ADL Florida's regional director.