Spring Break
The Daily OrangeOfficials at Oakwood Cemetery discover vandalism
Volunteer suspects students may have stolen flags for dorm room decoration
By Brian Hayden
Posted: 9/23/07, 11:22 PM EST Section: News
A grim discovery was made in Oakwood Cemetery the morning of Sept. 11.
Two flags that had hung proudly over the cemetery's newly restored Civil War Monument were discovered stolen.
Cemetery volunteer Dr. Chris Piering, a Syracuse chiropractor, discovered the barren flagpole. He said the crime was committed between Sept. 10 and Sept. 11, as he had checked on the site just the day before.
"It could be anyone that did this, but I don't think so," Piering said. "My bet is that it is hanging in someone's dorm."
While Piering acknowledged that he could be wrong and did not want to point fingers, he said the vast majority of traffic through the cemetery was that of Syracuse University and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry students.
Cemetery director Daniel Glavin agreed. He said in the past, everything from beer cans to bongs to mattresses to chairs have been found in cemetery. Many students, he said, use the adjacent path from Day Hall to traverse through the grounds.
What bothers Glavin isn't when students walk through the cemetery, enjoy the scenery, or in ESF's case, observe the natural settings for classes. The problem is when they don't respect its peaceful purpose.
"It would be nice if SU would call every once in a while," said Glavin, questioning how often the university checks on the cemetery. "These relationships have been over for at least 15 or 20 years."
The Department of Public Safety was unavailable for comment. However, Matthew Snyder, of the Office of Student Affairs, said he checked and couldn't find anyone who has heard from sources, including the cemetery, about the recent incident.
If it had been brought to their attention, Snyder said, the Office of Judicial Affairs would be responsible for investigating the potential violations of the Code of Student Conduct.
Emily Warne, a Day Hall resident and freshman broadcast journalism major, said she runs through Oakwood daily. She said she always passes a couple of other runners and has seen students observing the nature there.
"I've never seen anyone vandalizing anything, but I have definitely seen a couple sketchy characters there," she said.
Piering is a member of the New York Volunteers 122nd division. He and other volunteers spent four years methodically restoring the gravestones of 231 Civil War Veterans under the now vacant flagpole, a feat he said took "thousands of man-hours."
He also pointed out another attempt of recent vandalism nearby: A pile of reinforced cannonballs mounted on a stone that someone tried to unsuccessfully roll down a set of steps. The late August attempt caused damage to the steps and to the stone on which the balls were mounted.
"It's just disappointing is all. It would be nice if the flags would come back," said Piering, emphasizing that no questions would be asked upon their return.
Two flags that had hung proudly over the cemetery's newly restored Civil War Monument were discovered stolen.
Cemetery volunteer Dr. Chris Piering, a Syracuse chiropractor, discovered the barren flagpole. He said the crime was committed between Sept. 10 and Sept. 11, as he had checked on the site just the day before.
"It could be anyone that did this, but I don't think so," Piering said. "My bet is that it is hanging in someone's dorm."
While Piering acknowledged that he could be wrong and did not want to point fingers, he said the vast majority of traffic through the cemetery was that of Syracuse University and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry students.
Cemetery director Daniel Glavin agreed. He said in the past, everything from beer cans to bongs to mattresses to chairs have been found in cemetery. Many students, he said, use the adjacent path from Day Hall to traverse through the grounds.
What bothers Glavin isn't when students walk through the cemetery, enjoy the scenery, or in ESF's case, observe the natural settings for classes. The problem is when they don't respect its peaceful purpose.
"It would be nice if SU would call every once in a while," said Glavin, questioning how often the university checks on the cemetery. "These relationships have been over for at least 15 or 20 years."
The Department of Public Safety was unavailable for comment. However, Matthew Snyder, of the Office of Student Affairs, said he checked and couldn't find anyone who has heard from sources, including the cemetery, about the recent incident.
If it had been brought to their attention, Snyder said, the Office of Judicial Affairs would be responsible for investigating the potential violations of the Code of Student Conduct.
Emily Warne, a Day Hall resident and freshman broadcast journalism major, said she runs through Oakwood daily. She said she always passes a couple of other runners and has seen students observing the nature there.
"I've never seen anyone vandalizing anything, but I have definitely seen a couple sketchy characters there," she said.
Piering is a member of the New York Volunteers 122nd division. He and other volunteers spent four years methodically restoring the gravestones of 231 Civil War Veterans under the now vacant flagpole, a feat he said took "thousands of man-hours."
He also pointed out another attempt of recent vandalism nearby: A pile of reinforced cannonballs mounted on a stone that someone tried to unsuccessfully roll down a set of steps. The late August attempt caused damage to the steps and to the stone on which the balls were mounted.
"It's just disappointing is all. It would be nice if the flags would come back," said Piering, emphasizing that no questions would be asked upon their return.
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