Open letter addresses graffiti
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 11/07/2008
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France Cordova
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Purdue president France Córdova released an open letter Thursday expressing her distaste with several incidents of offensive graffiti found on campus.
The most recent incident, a derogatory message stating "Fuck Obama," was found Tuesday morning on the tree between the Class of 1950 Lecture Hall and the Recitation Building. The Purdue Grounds department had painted over the message by approximately 8:30 a.m. that day.
The incidents, wrote Córdova, "do not reflect the good character of Purdue's citizens and our shared values of inclusion and respect.
"Such conduct is reprehensible and wholly out of character with Purdue's long tradition of fellowship and mutual respect."
Similar derogatory markings have been found on sidewalks and at least one campus building. Purdue police are investigating.
"We just aren't going to tolerate that on our campus," said Purdue spokeswoman Jeanne Norberg. "If anyone sees anything like that, they should let us know and we will remove it."
Scott Helmkamp is grounds supervisor with the department of buildings and grounds and oversees some of the grounds teams responsible for cleaning the graffiti.
"Historically we've had graffiti, but there seems to be more of it the last couple days," Helmkamp said. "Everyone has an opinion and some people choose the wrong way to express their opinions. Even if it's a good opinion, you don't spray paint it, you don't deface public property."