Current Release: April 28th, 2009 | Vol. XXX Iss. 10

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA DROGUS

Vandalism strikes again

By Nate Swann

ndswann@vwc.edu

Trees and bushes uprooted. Shattered Adirondack chairs. Broken bicycles.

These are just some of the examples of vandalism that have occurred at VWC since the beginning of the semester.

“It is very disturbing to me,” said David Buckingham, dean of students, “that a small group of students have repeatedly and willfully damaged College property during the first six weeks of the 2007 fall semester. These students do not represent the vast majority of students here at the College, but their vandalism affects all of us.”

One act of vandalism that had a major effect on the campus was the destruction of a tree planted in Rose Lawn as a living memory of those who lost their lives during the Holocaust.

“I was very upset,” said Dr. Sara Sewell, assistant professor of history. “That tree stood for many different things. Those who perished at the hands of the Germans and the hard work of the students (from Dr. Sewell’s Holocaust: Issues and Interpretations class who worked to get the tree planted).It assaulted that memory.”

The tree was planted during a candlelight vigil on Nov. 7, 2002, in commemoration of Kristallnacht. Holocaust survivors were present at this ceremony.

“The thing we really mulled over was what type of lasting memorial we wanted at school,” said Tracey Garbers, a student who worked to get the tree planted. “We chose the tree because it was something alive and would continue to grow.”

It represented a way to continue to remember the Holocaust.

There are also acts of vandalism occurring around Kellam Hall.

“I came onto Kellam Hall,” said Samantha Rhoades, “and the furniture was flipped, pictures that people drew were torn down, a trash can was stolen, and some small things were broken.”

Rhoades also had personal property vandalized.

“Someone messed up my bike; they tore off the back brakes,” she said.

There also has been a bike rack torn up from the ground and placed in a stairwell, Adirondack chairs thrown off the roof with wood broken everywhere and broken windows. Rhoades believes that freshmen players of a sports team are responsible for at least some of the vandalism, due to hazing by other members of the team.

“If I saw someone do it,” said Rhoades, “I’d probably hit them.”

Some students are not that worried about the vandalism this semester.

“It’s not as bad as it was last year,” said Carmen Dawkins.

Since the start of the semester, campus security has reported 24 separate acts of vandalism. During Spring 2007, there were 61 reported acts of vandalism.

So why are these acts of vandalism continuing to occur?

“We don’t have frickin’ security cameras,” said Caitlin Donlan.

“People aren’t going to tell on their friends,” said Jaime Greer.

Dr. Sewell has one solution to this problem.

“Students need to take back their campus. Don’t leave it to security, professors, the Dean, or RA’s.”

Until this problem gets solved, tuition will continue to be raised more than it should, and the campus will continue to have a sense of uneasiness.

“(It) must be ended for the common good of our campus community,” said Buckingham.