 "Photo: Alma Hernandez")
Campus water towers are usually colorful displays of sorority and fraternity pride, but recently a few of them were vandalized, with the feeling of school unity replaced by a sense of vulnerability.
Members of Omega Delta Phi fraternity reported the graffiti to the Office of Student Development Feb. 12.
“When I found out, I couldn’t believe we got tagged again. I was upset, it takes time to decorate a tower and some are more elaborate that ours,” said Michael Jacquez, president of Omega Delta Phi. “And for someone to just draw something obscene as a penis on the towers shows their maturity level.”
Greek organizations apply annually at The Office of Student Development to gain rights to one of the six towers on campus for a period of one year. The three towers belonging to Omega Delta Phi, Phi Kappa Theta, and Sigma Lambda Beta were quickly repainted after the graffiti outbreak.
According to Jacquez, although Omega Delta Phi’s tower had technically been reassigned after the year was up, it still had the fraternity’s mark. The towers are a representation of pride and for this reason Omega Delta Phi covered the graffiti immediately until the next organization, Baptist Student Ministries, was able to repaint the tower with its design.
Campus police made a report of the incident, but there have so far been no leads in the investigation. However, the fraternities have requested additional patrols in an effort to deter future incidents.
“My chapter was extremely upset, we wanted more done than just a report, but that’s all we could do,” said Jacques, who also serves as the frat chaplain. “Getting hit once is a slap in the face, twice is like getting kicked when you’re down.”
Carina Alcantera, coordinator of Student Development for the past three years, said there have been prior incidents but that no one has been apprehended.
“The reason people are not caught is because there are no cameras on the towers,” said Alcantera, who graduated from UTPA with a degree in communication. “Whoever is vandalizing is probably doing it really late at night or very early in the morning.”
However, previous graffiti and the most recent incident share a common link; they all happened near streets, as it appears the person or persons tagging are avoiding venturing too far onto the university campus.
According to Alcantera, lighting is a contributing factor to not only vandalism, but also other types of crimes such as assaults.
“Lights on campus could and should be brighter,” she noted. “It’s always been a concern for me since I was a student, I feel the lights are too yellow and they don’t brighten the campus. I feel brighter white lights would make campus parking lots, walking areas, and covered walk ways more visible.”
In agreement, Jacques said, “Just like a house being well lit detours any trespasser, it should do the same for the university because trespassers would be easier to see.”
However, he points out the tower on Sugar and Schunior is busy at all hours and yet was still targeted.
With no simple solution, students hope for the best with increased patrol in the area.
Anyone with information is asked to make a report with campus police as this is an ongoing investigation.
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