A rash of vandalism has hit the Government of the Student Body presidential election after both of the remaining slates for president and vice president have experienced significant damage to campaign signs and posters.

“Every one of our plywood signs has been damaged, except for one on Lincoln Way, which is nailed to a tree,” said Sarah Walter, GSB vice presidential candidate. “Either it was tipped over, the sandbags were stolen or the legs were attempted to be broken.”

Alliger/Walter signs have been visible around Campustown and have been targeted by vandals in many ways.

“Somebody took one of our signs near Buchanan Hall up to the top of the Memorial Union parking ramp,” said Henry Alliger, GSB presidential candidate. “They dropped it off and it got stuck in a tree.”

This incident was reported to the ISU Police Department.

“[Vandalism] seems to be an escalating problem,” Alliger said. “Last year there was some fairly significant theft and vandalism of some indoor paper flyers, but this year, it seems to have moved more outdoors.”

Although the Alliger/Walter campaign has received the most damage, both campaigns have endured a significant amount of vandalism.

“We have had lots of posters torn down, as well as our big banner was ripped and basically destroyed, so we had to take it down,” said Angela Groh, GSB presidential candidate.

Both slates deny involvement in vandalism toward the other campaign.

“A lot of our signs have had other signs placed over them,” Walter said. “We had a couple of posters up in Towers, and they were taken down or had Groh/Deal posters put up over them.”

Groh said she was upset to hear about vandalism toward either of the platforms.

“I have known Henry and Sarah personally for several years, and I know that, personally, they would not do these kinds of things,” Groh said. “I respect both of them, as I hope they respect Chris [Deal] and I and know we had no part in any of the vandalism to their different signs.”

If it is found that a member of either campaign was involved in the vandalism, GSB can exact fines or make a ticket ineligible, said Caleb Shinn, GSB election commissioner.

University officials said they were disappointed by the increase in vandalism and they hope it is not a trend that continues into future GSB elections.

“I’m very disappointed,” Dean of Students Pete Englin said. “I’ve always believed in the GSB election process, that it’s worked well, and I had hoped our community would be respectful of that process.”

Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas Hill joined Englin in expressing his disappointment in the vandalism.

“Until you can identify the person responsible for these things, we clearly must send a message that this type of message cannot be tolerated,” Hill said. “If we find the individuals responsible for it, we’ll clearly take them through the judicial process. I suspect if it rises to that level, they can be charged criminally.”

Englin said this is the first time he has heard of vandalism during a GSB election.

“If they are caught, I would hope they are held fully accountable,” he said.