A recent act of vandalism at the University of Southern California has sparked outrage and condemnation from university officials. The vandalism occurred on Saturday and targeted the Tommy Trojan statue and a fountain in Alumni Park. The perpetrators, believed to be part of a group illegally camping on campus, defaced the statue with the words “Say No to Genocide.”
In a statement, Joel Curran, senior vice president of communications at USC, stated that despite warnings, the group has continued to disrupt campus operations and harass students, violating university policies. While the university supports freedom of expression, Curran emphasized that acts of vandalism and harassment are “absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
University President Carol Folt attempted to meet with the students responsible for the vandalism, but they rejected the offers. Curran expressed hope for a more reasonable response from the group before further action is taken. The university needs the area for an event set to take place earlier this week.
The incident has raised concerns about campus safety and respect for university property. USC officials are working to address the situation and ensure that such behavior is not repeated. The university remains committed to upholding its values and providing a safe and inclusive campus environment for all students and staff.