Last week Old Main was subject to several acts of vandalism. According to Penn State police logs between Tuesday nigh and Wednesday morning, a front step on the lawn side of the building was damaged, as was a park bench on the southeast corner of the Old Main lawn. However, perhaps most disturbing of all was the graffiti on the sundial in front of the building.

Old Main has long been one of the most distinguishable and venerated landmarks at Penn State. When a landmark like this, which represents something that so many people hold dear to them, is defaced, it hurts not only the building itself, but the people who care about it. Said Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers,

It’s senseless. It’s disrespectful and it costs everyone money. Beyond the monetary cost, of course, is a social cost—that is, the feelings of the community members who encounter the vandalism. […] While it may hit home more when a vandal targets a landmark, vandalism of any kind, anywhere in the University is troubling and should be reported so that it can be stopped.

Powers also said the University is moving quickly to clean up the damage. No cost of repair has yet been determined. Anyone with information regarding the vandalism is asked to contact the police.