The words “racist” and “rapist” continue to deface fraternity houses off-campus. The same black graffiti seen on the Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) and Pi Kappa Alpha houses earlier this week appeared on the Kappa Alpha and Kappa Sigma houses Wednesday afternoon.
Two white pillars of the KA house were defaced with “racist” and “rapist” in large black letters with the front door reading “up security like Fiji did.” Similarly, the stones surrounding the Kappa Sigma house were graffitied with “racist” and “rapist” along with the same security message on the door. The concrete wall by the front steps read “hang rapists.”
The fraternity vandalism started Monday morning when the words “racist” and “rapist” were graffitied on three stone pillars outside the front gate of the Fiji fraternity house located on West 27th Street. The Pi Kappa Alpha house was vandalized with the phrase “kill the frats” Tuesday morning.
UT President Gregory Fenves released a statement Wednesday addressing the original report of vandalism at the off-campus Fiji house.
“At the University of Texas of Austin, we will not tolerate vandalism and threats targeting our students and are actively investigating the recent incidents near campus,” Fenves said in a statement. “Many students understandably feel concerned and vulnerable. I want them to know we are committed to making UT Austin a safe environment for all our students.”
The UT police department is working with the Austin police to increase neighborhood patrols and to review video footage, and the University is providing crisis support, advice and guidance to the affected students and groups, Fenves said.
“The Office of the Dean of Students is investigating, in accordance with the recently issued Hate and Bias Incident Policy, (and) the incident has also been referred to the Campus Climate Response Team,” Fenves said in a statement.
According to complaints filed with the Campus Climate Response Team, the Fiji fraternity was the center of controversy for hosting a “border patrol” party in spring 2015.
