BREAKING: College Threatens Felony Charges Against Students for Vandalism on Campus
On Wednesday morning, Walla Walla Police Department (WWPD) responded to a call from Whitman College concerning vandalism at Memorial Building. Red paint was splashed at the front entry-way and doors of the building, and chalk covered the area.
WWPD has not yet identified persons of interest, but the case has been referred to the Major Crimes Detective. The estimated $4,000 in damages to the building are considered a felony.
President of Whitman Students for Justice in Palestine, Elle Palmer, says that she had no prior knowledge about the alleged vandalism, and confirmed that WSJP was not involved.
“SJP does not encourage actions that violate official conduct and bears no responsibility for the actions of individuals who choose to engage in such a manner,” said Palmer.
The President’s Cabinet sent a joint email to the campus community stating that criminal activity will be reported to the authorities. This marks a significant departure from last year’s protests, where the school repeatedly declined to involve WWPD, even when students explicitly broke college policy by occupying Memorial Building overnight.
The Cabinet reiterated that chalking on vertical surfaces is considered vandalism per Whitman’s Code of Conduct policies.
Chalk on the Memorial Building sidewalk explicitly names Board of Trustees Member, Joe Davis, for his controversial workplace, the Boston Consulting Group which was the subject of an extensive New York Times investigation in 2020.
Vice President for Communications Gina Zandy Ohnstad states that naming individuals constitutes a violation of the Code of Conduct classified under, “intimidation or other harassment or discrimination of any kind.” Zandy Ohnstad appeared to be referencing the chalk which named Davis.
Chalk appeared on other sites on campus. The chalk which directly named Joe Davis has been altered, with the portion containing Davis’ name washed off. The Wire is unable to confirm who washed the chalk off the sidewalk.
Zandy Ohnstad denied allegations that the Cabinet’s message was targeted at Whitman Students for Justice in Palestine.
“The message is to remind the entire Whitman community of conduct expectations and the accountability processes in place when conduct violations occur,” wrote Zandy Ohnstad, “it was not directed at, nor does it mention, any specific student group.”
While Zandy Ohnstad claims that the message was not directed at specific student groups, Palmer says the College’s threatening underlying message is obvious.
“While they say that it was not directed towards any student group, it feels like it does indirectly address SJP, especially when they talk about divestment,” said Palmer.
For Palmer, the College’s message, and the looming threat of felony charges against students, is chilling.
“While harassment should not be tolerated, there is an element of protest that is always necessarily disruptive. The tone set by this statement will certainly have a chilling effect on student engagement,” said Palmer.
Sgt. Loudermilk from the WWPD says that the case will be moved forward to the Major Crimes Detective, but that there is little time to canvas for the investigation.
“I can tell you right now unless someone comes forward … they’re not going to go canvassing the neighborhood … they don’t have time for that without any leads to follow,” Loudermilk said.
Palmer expressed concerns about the Cabinet’s willingness to involve WWPD in matters of protest, particularly after Donald Trump’s election.
“These community members–students, staff, and faculty–are already disproportionately targeted and affected by police violence, a truth known to the administration,” said Palmer, “the precedent set by this statement endangers student activism and stands in contradiction with previous statements issued by the college asking us to work in community and remain sensitive to those of us marginalized or oppressed by the current system.”
In a statement provided to the Wire, the Art History Department expressed strong disagreement with the College’s message to students.
“Do we care more about the red paint on a building than we do about what that red paint is protesting?” Read the statement.
The statement was signed by Professors Krista Gulbransen, Libby Miller, Matt Reynolds, and Lisa Uddin.
The College has yet to respond to numerous concerns raised by faculty and students about their response to the recent protests. Students predict that the chilling effects of the school’s statement will be felt almost immediately.
