'Offensive' graffiti scrawled in Quad halls

[Ilana McQuinn/The Daily Pennsylvanian] College freshman Mia King (left) and Nursing sophomore Ally Merrit walk through a hall in the Quad, the walls marked by graffiti. Explicit vandalism in Fisher-Hassenfeld College House has drawn a police inve

Explicit graffiti scrawled across a hall in the Quadrangle last week has resulted in police involvement, a possible Office of Student Conduct investigation and an uproar from residents.

Early last Thursday morning, drawings and words including "fag," "gay" and "Jew" were scrawled throughout the first and second floor halls of McKean and Baldwin in Fisher-Hassenfeld College House.

Five students have come forward and admitted to Fisher-Hassenfeld Dean Jane Rogers that they were involved, although college house officials say they saw about 10 to 15 men in the halls that morning.

Around 8 a.m. Thursday, the men were reportedly yelling in the dorm and banging on doors, apparently looking for certain residents.

Those living on the hall emerged from their rooms to discover that the walls had been vandalized with words and drawings done in marker, according to Fisher-Hassenfeld staff members.

Associate director of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center Erin Cross expressed concern with regard to the content of the writings.

"Obviously, we're upset that this happened in this day and age," she said. "But unfortunately, [a similar incident] happens at least once a year -- if not more -- in a college house."

Early the same morning, indecent drawings were reported in Ware College House, which is adjacent to Fisher-Hassenfeld.

No one has yet been identified as being involved in the Ware case.

However, Ware Dean Nathan Smith said that "there is an explicit and evidenced connection," citing similarities in the timing of the incidents -- about 8 a.m. -- and in the nature of the graffiti.

Rogers said that she was able to get the names of several of those involved -- all Penn students. She sent a report to the Office of Student Conduct but would not release the names.

While OSC Director Michele Goldfarb would not comment on whether the incident is being investigated, Rogers said she requested that the office examine the case.

Rogers added that Penn Police were also called and made a report, which will be forwarded to the OSC.

Quad college house deans plan to discuss the incidents before making a further report.

House deans say such acts are particularly prevalent each January during the spring rush period.

There is "some sort of group mentality [involving] large groups going through halls," Smith said.

Other incidents involving vandalism during this year's rush period have included the tearing down of signs and bulletin boards. According to Rogers, this is worst incident of an offensive nature in the past five years.

She said the writing "clearly intimidated and frightened a lot of the people -- not just the staff but the residents as well."

McKean resident and College freshman Jackie Backer said that she saw the graffiti upon waking up that morning.

"I was in tears when I saw it. ... It was really disturbing," Backer said.

Though Facilities Services workers scrubbed the graffiti off the walls by Thursday afternoon, Rogers said workers are still fixing the wall damage and assessing repair costs.

"The walls can be repaired and the sign can be rehung," she said. "But from my perspective, the worst kind of damage is how it upset the people in bed asleep. ... It's going to take a little longer for people to get over the effects of this."

Comments (8)

Grow up is just looking for attention. Don't give him any and he'll evaporate. don't feed the trolls orpheus_jackson@yahoo.com

On my second night at Penn as a frosh, someone scrawled "Nazi" and drew Swastikas on my door in response to my Bush-Cheney poster. People like this are immature. It made it all that much better when Dubya won ;-) Student__

Hope your attitude isn't a reflection on your parents "grow up", though unfortunately too many times it is. If I found out my kid had this attitude I would be very disappointed. Then I would bounce his head off the wall because that is not the way he was raised. Part of what makes Penn the wonderful place it is is because of its diversity, and if it bothers you you should leave. No one should be subjected to that abuse. Ditto - your an idiot "Grow Up"

I hope that all readers realize that the anonymous nature of this "comments" section makes it easy for anyone to claim they are a Penn student, parent, employee or whatever. Please don't assume that a comment is in any way a legitimate reflection of Penn. There are a lot of idiots out there with way too much time on their hands who like to get a reaction because they lead pitiful lives. The same type of idiots who would write offensive graffiti. Another anonymous commentator

I completely agree with "disgusted" and "Penn Alum." "Grow up", your views sicken me and it is truly shameful to see that you are a current Penn student. Go get yourself a brain. Another Penn Alum New York

Seriously, Grow up, how do you live with yourself. Your lack of empathy for the sort of fear gay and lesbians experience when they see this sort of thing on the walls of their dorm - a place they should feel safe considering they pay enough to live there - sickens me. Would you feel the same if the n-word were scrawled on the wall? How is that more acceptable than words that bash gays? The only reason I can think of is because there is still a good sized minority in this country that views it acceptable, and that is no reason at all. It is people with your attitude that contribute to a climate that makes this sort of thing acceptable. Oh, and FYI, I am originally from Texas, and have to say that coming from a place where, gay men in particular, often feel threatened does not make this sort of incident seem OK. In fact, it makes it worse that it would be if this were a country where people could be who they are without people like you belittling their existence. Shame on you. Penn Alum, Law NYC

Dear "Grow up," You should be ashamed of your hateful, vile comments and I, as a student at Penn, am personally ashamed to realize that you are my colleague. I hope that my fellow students feel the same way. Saying that being LGBT is not "tolerated" in other parts of the country does NOT make acts that engender hate and divisiveness okay. Your mentality is like that of a child. No, really. How do you live with yourself? disgusted

stop crying about this grafitti. it happened. get over it. in africa and the middle east, many wake up each day wondering if they will get shot, while the worst thing in little jackie backer's life is reading the word fag on the wall. also, newsflash for erin cross....being gay is not accepted in this day and age in most places. it might be in philly, san fran, and nyc, but that's about it. you are probably one of the people calling for "diversity" at penn...well....you got what you asked for. since you go crying about this incident to the press, i'm sure they'll be many copycat incidents to follow. Grow up, student penn

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