Seven torn pages of the Daily that covered the words spray-painted on the side of the Student Services Building. The Daily pages were taped over the words “Dean of Fags” that had, thanks to an unknown vandal (or vandals) and a can of spray paint, appeared sometime during the weekend.

“Dean of Fags,” it’s assumed, was referring to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Student Services office.

Not far away, on the side of the Durham Center, the words “Die Fag Die Fag” were also spray painted.

We’ve come a long way. And yet, nowhere at all.

The message on the Student Services Building is odd. Why attack Dean Peter English? A staff member with LGBTSS said it’s the first time in recent memory that anybody working for the Dean of Students Office could remember vandalism being directed at them.

Staff members in the Dean of Students Office decided to tape the old newspapers over the vandalism to keep a sense of openness with students who may be seeking the help of LGBTSS. Covering up this kind of ignorant intolerance is never the answer, but we also need to extend great courtesy to those students who may be timidly approaching the office in need of help and would clearly be turned away by hate speech.

Although it would be nice to think hate crimes like this have no place on our campus any more, they can’t be ignored. The individual or individuals responsible for these actions did some homework. Those who wander around campus most likely don’t see the Student Services Building and make the link to LGBTSS, much less know precisely where on the building to hit.

As well, it was years ago when Jeff Sorensen, now a technician in the Durham Center, was the faculty adviser to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Alliance. And while it’s been a few years since Sorensen was in the spotlight of LGBT activism on campus, he still believes the message was targeted toward him.

During his time with the LGBTAA, Sorensen said fliers were set on fire, though the flames never caught. Even last year, posters the LGBTAA placed on campus that featured both homosexual and heterosexual pairs kissing were torn down. The group wanted to use the ripped posters to demonstrate the attitude of the campus toward the LGBT community. While that may not have been a scientific test, nobody can argue with the hatred displayed in these two acts of vandalism.

Those responsible for the vandalism have been invited to open dialogue. Do so. The opinions the vandal or vandals were trying to express, perhaps, have a place on this campus. The methods do not. Utilize the forums at our fingertips, but do not make childish jabs at those in our community.

Editorial Board:Cavan Reagan, Amber Billings, Ayrel Clark, Charlie Weaver, Rachel Faber Machacha, Zach Calef.