Two statues vandalized on fraternity property
Two stone lion statues beside the walkway outside of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house were vandalized Sunday morning when someone took a heavy object and smashed their faces in.
Vandalism was reported on the 14th Avenue and Alder Street property around 11 a.m. by University sophomore Dustin Burke, who is also the SAE eminent warden.
Burke said the vandalism occurred sometime between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., and the fraternity has no idea who may have caused the damage.
The lions, which are valued at $2,000, were donated by alumni last year, Burke said. The fraternity hopes to repair the statues or will ask alumni for help with replacing the lions, he said.
This is not the first time the lions have been vandalized, Burke said, adding that earlier this year the lions were egged and urinated on.
Police also arrested three students last year for spray-painting the lions, Burke said.
“It’s some feat for people to mess with our lions,” he said.
Burke said the lions are significant to the fraternity and the vandalism is “a slap in the face.”
The fraternity is planning to install video cameras on the exterior of the house, Burke said. He hopes the cameras will be up before the winter break.
– Katy Gagnon