Vandalism

1/31/08

By Joey Stewart
Special to the Critic

Several instances of vandalism in the form of graffiti have been spotted on the walls of LSC on the walls and doors of many of the campus restrooms, specifically the men’s rooms.

A large display of this graffiti is done in black spray paint outside of Vail on the concrete wall by the mail room entrance.

The graffiti, in all of its different locations, is assumed to have been done by the same person based on the fact that the writings were all done in a similar handwriting and most of them are of the same word, “Theo,” George Hacking, director of Public Safety.

“I think that some people believe it’s art. I think it’s visual pollution when it is the destruction or damage of public property, and it should not be allowed to continue,” Donna Edwards, Library Circulation Supervisor, said.

Campus security is in the process of investigating these “tagging” incidents and is confident that they will find the perpetrator, Hacking said.

“This school will bend over backwards to help people express themselves, and all they have to do is find the right avenues to ask those questions, and this person has obviously chosen not to do that,” Hacking said. “So instead, they have gone out and committed a crime, which they can be charged with criminally through the Vermont State Statutes, but I am not saying that that is going to happen. What we need to do is find this person and find out why they are doing it, and educate all people involved that this is not the right thing to do.”

Some of the damage that has been done, especially to the wooden bathroom doors, will not be a cheap fix. They will likely have to be sanded down and then re-varnished because the graffiti was done in permanent marker and has already set into the wood, Hacking said.

Many of the students have voiced there own opinions about this situation, but most of them agree that it seems childish.

“I think it’s an egotistical, improper outlet for self expression,” Eric Downing, a sophomore, said.

“It’s great that they are expressing themselves, but they shouldn’t deface public property,” Sara Morehouse, a senior, stated.

“I think that it’s sad that people feel compelled to do this. It really doesn’t mean anything, it just annoyed people, and obviously this guy has some talent and maybe he could find somewhere else to exhibit his art,” Garret Nelson, Library Director, said.