 Students walk to opposite sides of campus through the tunnel under Rivers Street. The tunnel is consistently covered in a wide variety of graffiti. Photo by Holt Menzies
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by EMILY MELTON
News Reporter
A Class 2 Misdemeanor occurred Wednesday by an individual who vandalized three areas on Appalachian State University’s campus.
As of press time, the person who committed the crime is unknown.
“Graffiti markings were found on electrical boxes outside [Hayes School of Music], Wey Hall and Newland Residence Hall,” University Chief of Police Gunther E. Doerr said.
Depending on prior record, the maximum punishment for a Class 2 Misdemeanor is a sentence of 60 days in jail.
There is no indication the graffiti is gang-related.
“Hopefully,
the markings are just a random act, but if the problem does escalate,
the risk of violence may increase,” Doerr said. “That’s our biggest
concern.”
This is the third act of vandalism on campus this semester, and University Police believe all incidences are related.
 Graffiti covers electrical boxes outside the Hayes School of Music. Photo Special to The Appalachian from ASU Police Department
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“These
graffiti markings are the first we’ve seen all semester,” Doerr said.
“But last year, it was a problem; different taggers would hit different
places.”
Doerr said current markings are unrelated to markings of previous semesters.
On Aug. 29, a blue light post on the north side of Plemmons Student Union was tagged.
On Aug. 30, the second level of the College Street Parking Deck was tagged.
The most recent incident with graffiti found on the electrical boxes was reported at 10 a.m. Sept. 15.
“It
appears as if each of these outside graffiti cases are likely all from
the same tagger,” University Police Detective Todd Corley said.
According to the Code of Student Conduct, the university prohibits vandalism and defacing public property.
The
minimum consequence for students is specific probation, a period of
close scrutiny of a student by the university to determine if that
student should remain at the university, according to the code.
The maximum consequence is expulsion.
Appalachian offers the tunnels on River Street to anyone who wishes to spray paint or draw in a public place.
 Graffiti covers electrical boxes outside the Hayes School of Music. Photo Special to The Appalachian from ASU Police Department
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University
Police said the tunnels are available for free speech and artistic
design so students will respect the rest of the campus.
“We ask that only the walls be painted,” Doerr said. “It turns into a safety issue if you paint anywhere else.”
Painting
is limited to the inside of the tunnels and not allowed on the
handrails, steps, lights, ground or walls outside the tunnels.
“The ground could get slick and lighting at night is less available if the ground and lights are painted,” Doerr said.
Doerr said the university periodically paints over the tunnels if there is anything obscene or vulgar painted on them.
“They’re stripped and steam-cleaned every so often because the layers of paint build up so quickly,” he said.
Doerr said he encourages students to use the tunnels instead of university property.
If anyone has any information regarding these crimes, he or she is asked to call University Police at 262-2150.
Anonymous reports can be sent online at busaf.appstate.edu/police/reportcrime.html.
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