Virginia Tech police are investigating a string of vandalisms that began Aug. 12 after an angry student visited Cook Counseling Center.
A search warrant filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court was executed on the off-campus apartment of a male student on Friday. Police seized two notebooks and paper for handwriting samples. The search warrant indicated that police were looking for signs of swastikas with intent to intimidate, or evidence of violent thoughts toward employees of Cook Counseling Center.
No charges have been filed in the case. Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum said the investigation is ongoing. Cook Counseling Center and the office of the dean of students are also monitoring the situation.
"We're working with all the areas on campus to resolve this issue," Flinchum said.
Affidavits filed said the incidents began in Cook Counseling Center on Aug. 12. Between 3 and 5 p.m. that day, a bathroom stall was vandalized, including a slur directed at Cook Counseling Center director Christopher Flynn.
The affidavit said the slur called Flynn a "dickhead" who "deserves to die."
Johnston Student Center, Engel Hall, Randolph Hall, McBryde Hall and Major Williams Hall were also vandalized. A message on a desk in Randolph Hall threatened to blow up the building.
Another message, "A Cho reborn, it will be avenged," was written in an allusion to Seung-Hui Cho, who killed 32 people at Tech before committing suicide on April 16, 2007.
The student who angrily left Cook Counseling Center on Aug. 12 has classes in all buildings affected except for Engel Hall. A Tech police officer followed the student on foot on Sept. 25, according to the affidavits.
After witnessing the student enter one of the vandalized Johnston Student Center restrooms, the officer approached the student and informed him the police would be filing a warrant to search his home.
According to the officer's affidavit, the student replied, "You had better bring the SWAT team."
The student later said he was joking.
The racial slurs associated with the vandalism incidents are not the first instances of discriminatory behavior at Tech this semester.
On Sept. 2, President Charles Steger sent an e-mail to the community urging students to abide by the Virginia Tech Principles of Community.
"Disappointingly, two key offices, namely the Dean of Students and the Office for Equity and Inclusion, received several reports during the first week of school of discriminatory remarks directed at students from underrepresented groups," the e-mail said. "Such behavior is not tolerated at Virginia Tech."
Flinchum asked that anyone with information about the incidents call Tech police at 540-231-6411.
Leave a comment 12 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
Zero Tolerance. That's all we can afford at this time, on this campus, in this town. We have endured enough of the senseless violence that seems to be the major trend in this nation, and particularly on our college campuses. The murder of a Yale Student, the murder of our students, killings on campuses in recent years across this country from the University of Pennsylvania, to VCU, to Temple to Northern Illinois University are merely the 'tip of the proverbial iceberg'. Every student, faculty member, VT employee and resident of our community needs to take to the streets en-mass and march to say once and for all we are not going to tolerate A N Y sort of violence or threat against us. No more! Never again! This has to stop and only we can stop it. To the troubled souls who painted this graffiti - consider yourself(selves) on notice, zero tolerance! You need to seek help, you need to reach out to your family, you need to check yourself into a clinic, you need to understand that whatever your life's problems are they don't need to result in violence against yourself or those around you. Noting is bad enough to make that a good answer. Zero Tolerance!
Reply to this Top
To Get real people. This sounds ok. There is a little bark, but absolutely no bite.
Reply to this Top
If there is strong enough evidence that the individual in question is the one behind the vandalism and the hateful words, then how can the university not do everything in their power to keep him off our campus and out of our school?
Reply to this Top
This hardly sounds like "little bark but no bite." He made threatening statements to a police officer's face for crying out loud. I can't imagine that a sane person would make a "joke" like that when confronted by a police officer. Also, why will legally carrying a concealed handgun for self defense get you expelled/fired by VT in an instant, but actually making threatening statements to police officers and faculty won't???
Reply to this Top
And still no timely notice by University Relations... A bomb threat is a bomb threat, no matter how it's written. I'm disappointed and shocked that the student body learned of these disturbing incidences in the Roanoke Times and local television, and not from a notice from our University.
Reply to this Top
Couple things: 1. why would the officer inform the student that a search warrant would be executed? I don't believe this is necessary, and may have allowed the student time to clean up after himself. 2. Is it not sufficient to place the student under arrest for his comments to the officer? Seems like it would be to me.
Reply to this Top
why is this guy still at this university? Has the school learned nothing? If he wants to make those statements and those threats then he deserves to be locked up.
Reply to this Top
wow he made threatening statements to a police officer, why is that a big deal? they are just like you and I except they have a shiny little badge and a gun, all to protect that huge ego. I am not worried about the kid that writes on the wall, he is just seeking attention, I am worried about the crazy kids who dont talk to anyone or visit cook counseling center in the first place and let there anger build up for years.
Reply to this Top
Sorry as my statement earlier may not have been a clear expression of my thoughts. I fully support a VT policy that says to bad people, "hey we will not tolerate ANY of your crap." The point I was making is that a policy or statement such as this doesn't cut it on its own. We need to show these scum that our policy is strictly enforced and backed up with appropriate measures.
Reply to this Top
yea, a heads up from somebody that knew of bomb threats would be nice. since it is all in our interests to know about a threat to blow up a building we go to class in, knowing of a bomb threat could keep people in the hallways vigilant and on the lookout. we have eyes too and I'm sure the campus police wouldn't mind the help. is there a blotter report that lists these incidents? im just saying...its great that we have police who go to work every morning to protect us but it doesnt have to be solely their job-we can help
Reply to this Top
I think a lot of people here need to read the law. Threatening people is illegal. Bomb threats are illegal. Getting a search warrant requires due cause, so if this student was doing something bad enough for police to get a warrant, and they found evidence, then he should be arrested. If not, then he is not a threat. So stop this insane push for more intrusive 'zero tolerance' policies - you really don't want to make this place into an airport where someone gets arrested whenever they say "bomb" or "gun". THAT is paranoia.
Reply to this Top
Jeff, just because they didn't find evidence doesn't mean he isn't a threat. I would ask why, if they already had probable cause to serve a warrant, did the statement to the officer not give him grounds to make an arrest?
Reply to this Top