Developing story: check out augustanaobserver.com for the latest details.
NEWS BRIEF:
A campus incident report sent through email on Friday, Feb. 23 announced “extensive vandalism” in Carlsson Evald Hall. According to the email, the graffiti contained messages of racial slurs, symbols, and suggestions of an ” act of violence against the college.”
According to an email statement from Ashleigh Johnston, director of public relations and social media, a public safety officer discovered the graffiti on Thursday, Feb. 22 during a routine building patrol. All the vandalism has been removed since then.
Tom Phillis, chief of police and Public safety, communicated the college’s “outrage at the despicable messages” in a separate email and reassured the Augustana community that measures are being taken to investigate the incident, including extra campus patrols and the locking of all academic buildings at 4:30 p.m. over spring break.
Phillis said public safety will maintain solid security throughout the CCIW tournament over the weekend and will be checking both bags and waists at the door to all sporting events.
The Evald vandalism is considered an open criminal investigation and has involved the Rock Island Police Department. No suspect has been identified at the time.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call public safety at 309-794-7711 or the Rock Island police at 309-732-2677.