Students arrived to campus Monday morning to the sight of various plots decorated with Greek insignia marred by red spray paint. The plots of Phi Beta Sigma, Iota Phi Theta and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternities were all damaged by unknown vandals.
One of the plots for the Beta Nu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., located in front of the Gore Education Complex, had the letters and emblems for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. spray painted on it.
Ranaldo Allen, the second vice president of the Southern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi and the undergraduate president of the Southern Province, said the members of the Alpha Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity are not responsible for the vandalism.
“We wouldn’t disrespect anybody like that,” he said. “I think whoever did do it is giving both the Kappas and the Alphas attention. And why would we put our name on somebody’s property? That’s just stupid.”
Reginald Wesley, president of the Beta Nu chapter, said that although he has not seen the vandalism, he is not surprised by it.
“Ever since I’ve been a member of our fraternity, there have been people who have done things to us because of who we are,” Wesley said.
Although the tag implicates that members of Kappa Alpha Psi committed the acts of vandalism, Wesley said his chapter does not think that they did it.
“When I heard about it, I immediately didn’t suspect that it was the Kappas,” he said. “We spoke with them and we don’t have any beef with them or anything.”
Wesley said he has no idea why anyone would deface the plots. He added that he does not think that the vandalism is some sort of retaliation by another fraternity.
The Kappas introduced the newest members of the Alpha Xi chapter Monday, and the Alphas unveiled the newest members of their chapter today, during what is being referred to as Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. week.
Some people said the Sigmas are upset that their week is being overshadowed by the other organizations.
“The thing is we no longer have weeks anymore,” Wesley explained. “We just have Fridays. There was nothing we could do about bringing our line out this week. I don’t think that this is a retaliation to that but I think this is retaliation to the caliber of men we are. As one of Jay-Z’s songs says, it’s the penalty of leadership.”
Members of the Alpha Eta chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. said they are not bothered by the fact that other fraternities are unveiling their lines during their week. They added that they have no reason to vandalize anyone’s property.
Serge Mondelus Jr., second vice president of the Alpha Eta chapter, said, “There is a lack of respect going on. Nobody cares about people’s personal property.”
Mondelus added that he believes that the Kappas were involved.
“But I think the Kappas will get away with it because a lot of the administration in SGA are Kappas,” he said.
In the past few months, there have been acts of vandalism in the dormitories, but none involving campus organizations.
Mickey Clayton, the interim director of Student Union and Activities, said he has worked at the University for 27 years and has seen such acts from time to time involving Greek organizations.
Clayton said his office has no idea about who is responsible for the vandalism. He said he is awaiting a police report before his office takes any actions.
“The first thing we have to do is get to the bottom of this,” he said. “The priority is to find out who it was. I have not spoken with the police about the status of their investigation.”
Saundra Inge, the associate director of the OSUA, said that although the office doesn’t know what party is responsible for the vandalism, a decision will be made by the end of next week.
“The resolution will be discussed at (tonight’s) Pan-Hel meeting,” she said. “There are a lot of rules at play right not but there will be consequences and costs incurred.”
Inge said because the culprits may remain unknown, all the members of the campus’ Pan-Hellenic Council may suffer for the actions of a few people.
“Unfortunately, one person will make it bad for everyone,” she said.
Inge added that she has contacted the University’s Physical Plant about estimates on what it would cost to have spray paint removed.
Although the Alphas are not the only organization affected by the vandalism, Wesley said the only retaliation his chapter will take is removing the damage.
“We’ll be repainting (the plots) this Saturday as a community service project,” he said. “We’re not going to allow this to sidetrack us.”
Contact Alexia R. Robinson at thefamuaneditor@hotmail.com.