This past Saturday night between 7 and 11 p.m., nine cars were vandalized with “graffiti that appear[ed] to reflect bias against individuals’ actual or perceived race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation,” according to an e-mail sent out to the Gustavus community from Hank Toutain.
This vandalism occurred both on and off campus. Six out of the nine cars belonged to Gustavus students, one was a Gustavus vehicle and two belonged to non-studetns.
“I saw that there was some writing on car windows, and I thought it was some sort of post-Halloween prank. But as I got closer I saw what the graffiti said and the vulgar pictures that were drawn with it, and it was just really offensive and really disturbing, and [I] decided that I needed to call [Safety and Security] and have them investigate,” said the student who discovered the on-campus graffiti, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Statements written on the car included “nigger”, “spic”, “sandnigger”, “I love the KKK,” “Niggers can’t be president,” “black monkey”, slurs against GLBT, and drawings of swastikas.
“It is impossible to describe how deeply hurt I am regarding the hateful and malicious words and symbols I found on my car on Saturday. Unfortunately, this event has completely redefined my view of people and the pain is more than just skin deep,” said one of the owners of a vandalized vehicle, who has chosen to remain anonymous. “I see this event, however, not as a chance to highlight hate on campus, but as an opportunity to denounce what happened and proactively ensure that this never happens again. I am inspired by the true spirit of Gustavus students and their quick, deliberate action to this unfortunate situation,”
“Individual students were not targeted,” said Dean of Students Hank Toutain, “but I would not go so far as to say that it was random. [At least two of the incidents] may have been related to what was on or in the car,” said Toutain. Bumper stickers or contents of the vehicles may have influenced the vandals to attack specific automobiles.
“The investigation is continuing, and it is not restricted to our campus. We are actively cooperating with the St. Peter Police Department because it may be that perpetrators are not members of the Gustavus community,” said Toutain.
“We are pursuing some leads and actively investigating,” said Director of Safety and Security Ray Thrower
The St. Peter Police Department was not available for a comment.
The vehicles were tagged with a substance that was able to be moved with water, and no physical damage was done. A statue outside of the Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library was marked with the same substance and inappropriate language around the same time of the vandalism on the cars.
After hearing about the incident, Senior Biology and Spanish Major Katie Halvorson began a petition of solidarity to propose a zero tolerance policy towards hate crimes on campus.
“I thought about writing a letter to the editor but I am one voice and there are so many voices in the community that feel the same way,” said Halvorson.
This is not the first bias incident at Gustavus this year. Last week a swastika was drawn in one of the bathrooms of the C. Charles Jackson Campus Center.
In an e-mail sent out by President Ohle to the campus, Ohle said that “hateful language and behavior will not be tolerated or condoned here at Gustavus” and that “[the campus] take[s] these matters very seriously.”
Ohle is in Sweden on College business, but said “Once the investigation of these matters is concluded, and I am back on campus, I look forward to hosting an open forum for discussion of these matters among students, faculty and staff. It is important to me that we talk about these types of issues together as a community.“
Anyone with information about the above incidents can contact the Dean of Students Office (202 Campus Center— 933-7526), the Diversity Center (107 Campus Center — 933-7449), or Safety and Security (035 Norelius — 933-8888).
Information can also be repoted to the St. Peter Police Department at 931-1550 or through the “Silent Witness Program” at: http://gustavus.edu/security/silentwitness/.
This I rediculous. It makes me scared for not only our students, but for our country and our new president’s well-being. This animal (the thing who vandalized these cars) is not the only one of it’s kind. There are, I’m sure, others on campus and in this mess we call America who feel the same way. That’s what makes me think that someone will be hateful and crazy enought to try and harm President Barack Obama because he is an African American and things didn’t go their way during elections.
To the thing who committed this crime, I don’t know who you are, but I hope I don’t see the white of your eyes on this campus, ever! Anyone low enough to act the way you did that night should be put to shame! This is a DIVERSE world, whether YOU (or anyone else) like it or not so DEAL WITH IT!
These acts are completely disgusting and unconscionable – but no human being, whether a malicious perpetrator or innocent victim – deserves to be called an “animal” or a “thing”. Hatred is what spawned these acts – fighting hatred with more hate and dehumanizing words won’t solve anything – it just fuels the fire.