According to Longwood University Police Department (LUPD) Administrative Sergeant, Russell Dove, there have been 16 reports of vandalism since Aug. 1, 2011. The acts have taken place all over campus, including Brock Commons, the Health & Fitness Center, and the softball field (Lancer Field). Each of these locations suffered from two acts of vandalism. The 10 other reported incidents occurred at various buildings and locations around campus.
Dove said, "We had some incidents that were similar in nature, to occur more than once or twice. Such as, three incidents of soap powder or some unknown substances placed in the fountains, three incidents of graffiti, four reports of damages to vehicles (broken mirror or window) and six reports of broken door/windows." In addition, bulletin boards within buildings have been damaged.
According to Longwood police policies, vandalism falls under the frame of crimes against property, such as stealing or damaging someone's property. For every act of vandalism comes a consequence for the person(s) responsible. LUPD Police Chief Bob Beach said, "depending on the magnitude of the vandalism," the police decide to charge the student criminally under the state code, for destruction of private property, or to send the student through Longwood's Honor and Judicial system.
When a student is sent through the Honor and Judicial system a panel of elected student justices hears the case. If the charged student is found responsible of the actions the board determines an appropriate sanction. According to the Student Handbook, an act of vandalism falls under the charge 14a: damaging, vandalizing and/or tampering with property.
The minimum sanction for 14a is disciplinary probation; however, each instance of vandalism is ruled on a "case-by-case" basis. More sanctions, including community service and/or educational assignments, may be applied depending on the severity of the case. Judicial Board Chairman Nick Snead said, "The penalties most likely associated with vandalism are disciplinary probation. Often times with disciplinary probation your privilegesare revoked by the school, and you have to pay for the damages of whatever is affected."
Vandalism not only affects those who are punished for it, it also affects the people who witness it on campus. According to the Residential and Commuter Life (RCL) Area Coordinator for West Campus Josh Blakely, vandalism affects the community within the residence halls a great deal. He said, "Those that do think of their residence hall as their home away from home are often heartbroken over the damage done to their ‘home.' Our buildings can often feel like safe places and vandalism can signal to some people that the space is not as safe as they once thought. It can alter their view of the world, and the people around them."
In addition to affecting the community, Associate Director for Housing Operations for RCL Doug Howell said, "Acts have a financial implication to [RCL] and cost hours of time to investigate and educate." According to the notice that the RCL Department posts on the occurrence of vandalism, "The RCL reserves the right to divide charges among an entire floor/building if the responsible individual(s) is not able to be identified." Whether the consequences are emotional or financial, all students can be affected by vandalism.
In the case where someone finds something that has been vandalized, first and foremost, Beach said, "We tell people and want them to understand that if they find evidence of vandalism, not to touch it or try to clean it up or fix it without first calling the police and letting us come [and investigate]."
In addition, Blakely said, "My advice is to report the incident to a Residential Assistant (RA) or to the police."
According to Beach, once on the scene, the officer documents what he sees and takes photographs. Longwood has made an effort to cut down crimes such as vandalism by installing video surveillance. In cases where a scene is found without a suspect, police are able to utilize the video surveillance to help solve cases.
Some may wonder why vandalism occurs. Beach said, "I think whenever you have close, confined populations there is potential for vandalism. It is done for two reasons." In one case, "it is done out of anger or rage; trying to get back at someone for something." Or, "it is done as some sort of joke done by, generally, someone who has been drinking."
In regards to fighting vandalism on campus, Beach believes that education is the university's biggest weapon. He said, "There will never be enough police officers to see and hear everything. There has to be the ability to force multiply by using technology and by educating people and making everyone understand the responsibility for our own public safety."
Beach added, "I don't see vandalism as a significant problem here. We have periods of it and have been very fortunate to solve most of those cases." He explained that this serves as a level of deterrence. "If you do it, you are probably going to get caught, as there are consequences to your actions."
