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Paint war between Greeks damages UA Senior Walk

Abstract:
After about 32 hours, the paint from a paint war organized by several student organizations is starting to come off Senior Walk on Old Main lawn, a representative from Facilities Management said.


Three Greek organizations - Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Delta Delta Delta and Kappa Delta - conducted a paint war Friday afternoon on the east side of Old Main lawn over the top of the Senior Walk, said Mike Johnson, director of Facilities Management....

  • Displaying 1 - 13 of 13

Brian

posted 10/19/07 @ 2:54 AM CST

I was never involved in a fraternity. But I don't see the big deal hear. A bunch of kids making a mess is all. Damages?! Facilities management is a bloated financial administration. So it takes 120 man hours to clean the paint off with a pressure hose at a cost of $1000-$3000? I've used a pressure hose to clean 20 year mold off of concrete, it's pretty fast and easy. Come on, that's ridiculous. What should have happened for everyone's benefit, is make those involved clean it up. It would be smart business for the fraternities, plus if they want the university as their playground, they need to be willing to clean after themselves.
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Jeff

posted 10/19/07 @ 7:27 AM CST

Originally posted by

Brian

 I was never involved in a fraternity. But I don't see the big deal hear. A bunch of kids making a mess is all. Damages?! Facilities management is a bloated financial administration. So it takes 120 man hours to clean the paint off with a pressure hose at a cost of $1000-$3000? I've used a pressure hose to clean 20 year mold off of concrete, it's pretty fast and easy. Come on, that's ridiculous. What should have happened for everyone's benefit, is make those involved clean it up. It would be smart business for the fraternities, plus if they want the university as their playground, they need to be willing to clean after themselves.


Brian, let's go to your house and throw so much paint all over it that it takes you and two of your buddies a solid week and $2,000 to clean it up and see if you think it's a big deal then.
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Brian

posted 10/22/07 @ 2:25 PM CST

Jeff, I think you missed the point entirely. In fact, I'd be happy to invite the Greeks over to throw paint around on my house. I'll clean it up myself and charge $3000. I'd do that every week of the year and totally make over 150K a year doing it. What permanent damage was caused to the walk? None!!! They are getting a just penalty for what they did, paying extra money for the extra trouble they caused. There is no need for outrage here. Next time, they should make better arrangements and take better precautions. NO BIG DEAL HERE!!
Originally posted by

Brian

 I was never involved in a fraternity. But I don't see the big deal hear. A bunch of kids making a mess is all. Damages?! Facilities management is a bloated financial administration. So it takes 120 man hours to clean the paint off with a pressure hose at a cost of $1000-$3000? I've used a pressure hose to clean 20 year mold off of concrete, it's pretty fast and easy. Come on, that's ridiculous. What should have happened for everyone's benefit, is make those involved clean it up. It would be smart business for the fraternities, plus if they want the university as their playground, they need to be willing to clean after themselves.
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Anonymous

posted 10/19/07 @ 10:47 AM CST

If any individual went out there and painted the Senior walk and was caught, not only would they be held responsible for the cost of cleanup, but they would be put in front of the J-Board, and arrested by the cops for vandalism.

Just because these people are "Greek" and did it as a group should not mean they should get special treatment and only be sanctioned by the cost of cleanup.
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Sally

posted 10/19/07 @ 10:51 AM CST

This is just sad. This is history being ruined by Greeks. I am not at all anti-Greek but they need to have a little more respect for our Alumni. They worked hard to get their names on that sidewalk and for it to be destroyed is just heartbreaking. I would be furious if it happened to me. I think they should continue to have the paint wars on Old Main lawn but I think maybe they should start covering the sidewalks with trashbags just in case...
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Trevor

posted 10/19/07 @ 11:05 AM CST

It's not just concrete, it is the oldest, most prominent section of senior walk. If I were in charge I sure wouldn't have let them try to clean it themselves either. Yes, at great expense you could replace senior walk, just as you could replace Old Main, but a brand new one wouldn't be the same.

I was a little surprised that nothing was said a couple years ago when they got paint on the stone wall along Arkansas Avenue, including obviously deliberate handprints. No way to clean that and still preserve a mossy old stone wall as it was. But that wall is not the core U of A tradition that senior walk is.

I'm sure it both cases it was just a few individuals, not to mention that usually there's no problem at all aside from some paint in the grass. Still, it would be nice if they held themselves accountable.
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Greektastic

posted 10/19/07 @ 12:29 PM CST

Thumbs up to the Greeks. Keep it up! May you fire bomb Old Main next and buy some friends along the way.

Is anyone surprised that the Greeks did this? Not in the least. Bring about the sanctions. I'm sure they'd love to come back in 25 years to see that their names on the Senior Walk are covered in pastel latex paints.

- Proud to be a GDI
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Old Main

posted 10/19/07 @ 6:52 PM CST

As an alum, I hope the individuals responsible for defacing Senior Walk are held accountable. Sanctions, fines - do whatever is needed to ensure this never happens again. If they can't respect UA tradition, maybe they should go somewhere else.
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THERE'S MORE TO LIFE

posted 10/19/07 @ 10:34 PM CST

I think all these hypocritical cows need to get a life. Why are you so worried about paint when there is bigger problems like war and famine. And to Greektastic, what do you do for this campus other than smoke cigarettes, stuff your heiffer mouth, and bash the greeks? Last time I checked the greeks were leading in philanthropy with 22,000 hours in the last year alone ranging from community service on this campus to world wide. You only analyze and judge the greeks actions because you would rather focus on the shallow stereotype rather than admitting that this was an honest mistake. Don't be such a pessimist the paint is fixable, but is your narrow-mindedness?

To all who care...

The greeks did offer to pay and clean the grounds the day following the event. The writer should get the facts straight before publishing an article and slandering a group. Their job is to be unbiased not judgemental. Take Fundamentals of Journalism.
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TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY

posted 10/20/07 @ 12:40 PM CST

Don't sit there and assume that the people involved walked away from the event and didn't care. All the houses invovled offered to pay and help in anyway they could the next day. The writer NEVER talked to any of the houses to see what they were doing to make things right. The article only showed one side. Part of making a mistake is making it right and that is exactly what has been done. They held themselves accountable and the paint is gone.
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Brandon

posted 10/21/07 @ 11:13 PM CST

Perhaps the writer should have contacted the Greek houses for their side of the story. Might have cleared up a lot of confusion, and most importantly, kept this article from appearing as biased as it truly is.
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Former Greek

posted 10/22/07 @ 10:37 AM CST

It is important to note that this incident resulted from the poor judgment of a few individuals. There are several Greek organizations on campus, but this incident only involved three.

It is sad that stereotypes are causing the U of A community to attack the entire system. Why are uninvolved houses being forced to share in the blame? As a member of a sorority that was not involved, (and that never participated in the Paint Wars while I was a member)it saddens me to see my chapter's repuatation disgraced by events in which it did not participate.

Further, even the three houses that were involved have a plethora of great members that are just as dissapointed by recent events as the rest of the community. The actions of a few should not mar the reputation of the majority.

Notice that Greek property was also defaced. The Chi Omega Greek Theatre was vandalized in the process. Do you not think that that sorority's members are also upset? The Greek Theatre was a gift to the University from Chi Omega, and it is a beloved landmark that is rich in tradition.

Say what you want about the purchase of friends... Regardless, I'm proud of my Greek affiliation, and joining a sorority was the best investment that I have ever made. I was introduced to great friends and numerous campus organizations. I had four of the best years of my life, and I am proud to have been a part of the system.
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Brian

posted 10/22/07 @ 3:18 PM CST

Since we are talking about paint on the sidewalks of campus, how come I still see after about a month the "Student's for Darfur" plastered in paint around campus. Did they not get the memo about using chalk? And by the looks of it, it's not latex based paint like the greeks, so clean up may be more involved the a pressure hose. I'm guessing it's completely ok with the Traveler that "Students for Darfur" is on permenant display.
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