MEGHAN GUATTERY
Staff Writer
If you have taken the time to explore the campus since the start of the semester, you may have noticed some strange markings.
They have been found on the walls, doors and bathrooms of campus, and even made an appearance on an FSA vehicle. Within the last two weeks, seven markings have defaced the campus.
“We’ve been finding this black magic marker writing all over campus,” said University Police Lieutenant Clifton Wheeler. “It says ‘FEW’ and it’s called tagging. We are looking for the public’s help in finding the subject or subjects doing the tagging.”
Graffiti, pursuant to New York Penal Law 145.60, is a Class A misdemeanor and punishable by up to one year in jail.
The law states, “No person shall make graffiti of any type on any building, public or private, or any other property real or personal owned by any person, firm or corporation or any public agency or instrumentality, without the express permission of the owner or operator of said property.”
Most of the graffiti on campus has been found due to an increase in patrol by University Police since the first marking was found on Sept. 30.
“The reason we try to stay on top of this is because, if we don’t, it encourages other people to do it and then there goes our beautiful campus,” said Wheeler.
Any information regarding the graffiti or any other crime can be reported anonymously through the Silent Witness Program. The form can be found on the University Police website at www.fredonia.edu/upd.