TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Students and staff at Texas State University started their Thursday with a shock as multiple buildings and structures across campus were vandalized with spray painted messages. Almost every facade of TXST’s Alkek Library had graffiti covering the exterior walls with messages surrounding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the United States border policy.
TXST President Kelly Damphousse released a statement on his Facebook page addressing the inci- dent. He had woken up to multiple messages and photos from campus but refused to share the photos so as to not magnify the vandal’s message.
“I want to make clear that vandalism of our campus buildings is a crime, and I have asked our UPD [University Police Department] to launch a full investigation,” Damphousse said. “Not only are these actions a violation of state law and a tremendous waste of university resources, they also attempt to undermine the Bobcat values that we hold dear.”
Damphousse made it clear in his statement that he defends the right to engage in free speech but that there is no place for criminal actions on campus that make the student body, faculty and staff feel unsafe.
The president encouraged anyone with information about the crime to reach out to the Universities police department at 512-245-2805.
