2008 Woodie Awards
Vandalism and Acts of Discrimination Lead to Confusion on Campus
Johanna Goldberg and Elizabeth Fields
Issue date: 2/9/05 Section: News
This past December, at least three cases of vandalism involving attacks on race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation (RRESO) were committed in Froelicher, Mary Fisher, and Heubeck Halls.
Additionally, students reported damage to four cars parked in the South Lot.
Security found posters and graffiti displaying intolerant messages, including several swastikas, in the residence halls. A student also reported that someone had made an inappropriate remark regarding sexual orientation.
"There was one poster that dealt with sexual orientation, and we believe we know the party involved, but we can't get anyone to come forward," said Veto Mentzell, Director of Campus Safety and Security. "We haven't been able to resolve the issue of swastikas drawn in public areas. We are now monitoring OneCard use in those areas."
On Dec. 5, the owners of three cars in the South Parking Lot reported damages to Security. These three cars were all the same make and model, Mentzell said. The owner of the fourth car, which was not as severely damaged, did not report the incident to Security until Dec. 8.
Gabrielle Sheinfeld, '06, owns one of the damaged cars. When she approached the vehicle on Dec. 5, she saw that "the back license plate had been tampered with." Upon further inspection, she realized that the car had been scratched, the windshield wipers broken, and the windshield cracked.
"It was shocking," Sheinfeld said. She learned later, and President Sanford J. Ungar verified, that the vandalism was a "mishap - [the perpetrator(s)] thought the car was someone else's."
Sheinfeld spent a sizeable amount of money and time getting the car fixed, and hopes that the person or people responsible pay for the damages and are forced to apologize.
"The fact that something like this can happen on campus demonstrates a shift in the type of student at Goucher," said Sheinfeld. "It's an immature, juvenile thing to do."
On Dec. 8, Sarah Haller, '05, reported to Security that her car's radio antenna was bent in half the same weekend as the vandalism.
Additionally, students reported damage to four cars parked in the South Lot.
Security found posters and graffiti displaying intolerant messages, including several swastikas, in the residence halls. A student also reported that someone had made an inappropriate remark regarding sexual orientation.
"There was one poster that dealt with sexual orientation, and we believe we know the party involved, but we can't get anyone to come forward," said Veto Mentzell, Director of Campus Safety and Security. "We haven't been able to resolve the issue of swastikas drawn in public areas. We are now monitoring OneCard use in those areas."
On Dec. 5, the owners of three cars in the South Parking Lot reported damages to Security. These three cars were all the same make and model, Mentzell said. The owner of the fourth car, which was not as severely damaged, did not report the incident to Security until Dec. 8.
Gabrielle Sheinfeld, '06, owns one of the damaged cars. When she approached the vehicle on Dec. 5, she saw that "the back license plate had been tampered with." Upon further inspection, she realized that the car had been scratched, the windshield wipers broken, and the windshield cracked.
"It was shocking," Sheinfeld said. She learned later, and President Sanford J. Ungar verified, that the vandalism was a "mishap - [the perpetrator(s)] thought the car was someone else's."
Sheinfeld spent a sizeable amount of money and time getting the car fixed, and hopes that the person or people responsible pay for the damages and are forced to apologize.
"The fact that something like this can happen on campus demonstrates a shift in the type of student at Goucher," said Sheinfeld. "It's an immature, juvenile thing to do."
On Dec. 8, Sarah Haller, '05, reported to Security that her car's radio antenna was bent in half the same weekend as the vandalism.
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