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."
