University administrators confirmed that five post-top lamps, frequently referred to as the outdoor light poles around campus, and four of the smaller lamps were knocked over Saturday, Oct. 13. In addition, two light housings on two light posts were damaged, and a bench and a trash can were turned over with trash dumped into Riley Creek. A security guard was on duty that night and chased students into Hirschy. This makes the total number of light poles that have been knocked down around 15 or 16 for the year.
Director of Buildings and Grounds Mustaq Ahmed said reports from campus security guards indicate three people were involved in the Oct. 13 incident. He said reports also indicated skateboards may have been used in the destruction.
“Two individuals brought the light pole down, and then a third individual banged the light pole for the light to go off,” said Kevin Williams, director of Residence Life.
The security guard on duty that night called out to the individuals, Ahmed said. They ran away from him into one of the buildings of the Hirschy Complex.
Members of the Sustainability Club clean up trash thrown into Riley Creek as a part of vandalism that occurred on campus Oct. 13. Photo courtesy Emily Griffioen
Ahmed said it is possible to figure out which students were involved by cross-referencing which key fobs were used to enter the Hirschy Complex at the exact time of the incident to the names of the students registered to those key fobs.
“Basically, we will be using the fob reader to find out who swiped in during those times, so we can have conversations with those individuals,” said Williams.
Ahmed said he believes a small group of students decided to destroy the light poles.
“It seems like it may be students who maybe have too much time on their hands and need some additional things to potentially be doing,” Williams said. “I think it could be, since it is a group of students, it could be them trying to figure out how many light poles they can bring down, but obviously I don’t know for certain.”
As of now, there is no evidence pointing to the same group of students causing the damage to the light poles.
A Tweet from the LRC on Sept. 2 featured turned over bench and trash can.
“When something happens like this and the individuals may not be apprehended, then it gives rise, potentially, to other individuals to feel like they can also do something and not be found out about,” said Williams. “I think when you have ongoing issues that continue to happen without resolve, it has potential to create an environment where others feel like they can do things, too.”
Ahmed said he is concerned about student safety when these kinds of things happen, which is why Buildings and Grounds staff clean up the mess as quickly as possible. They are worried about glass and exposed wires potentially harming students, Ahmed said.
“The cost of these damages is thousands of dollars,” said Ahmed. “Even for those six or eight poles that are damaged, the lights themselves are like $500 a piece.”
In the last couple of years, light poles have been the target for the destruction; however, this has not always been the case. Some years, rarely anything gets damaged and others years the destruction is more prominent, Ahmed said.
“We don’t like for any students to see the kind of vandalism that takes place,” said Ahmed. “What does that say about us, so we don’t wait around when something like this happens.”
“I would say to the individuals who have been doing the vandalism on campus that I would love to help you find constructive ways to have fun and ways that the things maybe you aren’t getting that you can get those things at Bluffton, and we would love for you to talk to the Student Senate about some of the things you would hope to have here at Bluffton,” said Williams. “Also, for them to think about the fact that this institution is theirs, too, and the things they are doing are impacting them as well as other people. To them, it may seem like a harmless joke, but for the institution that has to pay over a thousand dollars to replace a light pole it is not a joke.”
