Two campus buildings were vandalized with derogatory slurs about homosexuality spray painted on its outer walls. The vandalism was discovered on Monday.

“Die Fag Die Fag” was written on the Durham Center and “Dean of Fags” was written on the Student Services Building.

Jeff Sorensen, systems analyst for Academic Information Technologies, said he assumed the message outside Durham was painted sometime during the weekend because it was not there when he left work on Friday. He said he believes the message was targeted directly at him because of his involvement with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activities on campus.

Dorothy Lewis, director of AIT, said she called DPS immediately after seeing the message.

“I was very disappointed that someone had taken this approach to any kind of problem or disagreement,” she said. “The sort of language that was used was inappropriate for a campus discussion. It wasn’t a discussion — it was an attack, really.”

Jerry Stewart, director of the Department of Public Safety, said ISU Police received a report at 2:15 p.m. stating that windows on the ground floor of the building had been spray painted.

Stewart said they sent an officer to Durham and the Student Services Building to speak with Sorensen and photograph the writings.

The message on the Student Services Building could be directed to a number of people and offices within, including Peter Englin, dean of students, who has been “outspoken in terms of his willingness to bring up issues about LGBT students on campus,” said Todd Herriott, adviser for the LGBTAA.

The Student Services Building also includes offices specifically geared toward providing services to LGBT students, Herriott said.

The defacements don’t reflect the student body’s collective opinion, he said.

“I think a couple individuals got bored and thought ‘Hey, this will be funny,’ ” Herriott said. “I do agree that the vast majority of students on campus would not go as far as to spray-paint the side of a building, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the vast majority of campus is entirely accepting or embracing of LGBT students on campus.”

Englin said he encourages those behind the messages to speak personally with him about their actions and the emotions behind them.

“I would hope that the person who is responsible would come visit with me,” he said. “I’m awfully proud to be the dean of students with a [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Student Services] office and would ask folks to respond with conversation, dialogue and education as we sort through this.”

Jeremy Hayes, coordinator for LGBTSS, agreed.

“I hope whoever did this will engage in dialogue about it, including why they did it and why they chose those words,” said Hayes, graduate in educational leadership and policy studies.

He said the Student Services Building will continue to serve as a resource for LGBT students.

“Our services are still here,” Hayes said. “It’s important for people to know we have the support of the institution and administration.”

Stewart said ISU Police are asking anyone who might have seen suspicious activity at or near the buildings to come forward.

“Spray-painting is considered criminal mischief under Iowa statue. By state statute, this does qualify as a hate crime, which means there is a penalty enhancement,” he said. “Upon conviction, persons would receive a sentence that is one degree higher than the penalty for an offense that is not bias motivated.

“This certainly is a crime that we take seriously and have zero tolerance for,” he said.

Sorensen said the event renewed his drive to work toward tolerance on the ISU campus.

“At the same time that I wouldn’t want people dealing with coming out to see that kind of hatred, I think it’s also important for both the straight community and the LGBT community to be aware that that sort of hatred still exists on campus,” he said.

“It identifies that there is still a lot of education and tolerance work that needs to be done.”