Updated at 12:42 p.m.
University police arrested a man Wednesday night who allegedly
vandalized the 54 undergraduate student government election signboards
and sandwich boards that line Bruin Walk to promote the candidates.
Yang Wu allegedly vandalized the boards early Wednesday morning. Wu, identified as a student, was arrested around 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Wu told police he was drinking and confessed to knocking down the boards because he wanted Bruins United to win the elections, according to Nancy Greenstein, a UCPD spokeswoman. There is no indication that the act was done by more than one student, as the boards appeared to be kicked down, rather than sawed, she said.
Luz Maria Kumpel, Bruins United presidential candidate, said that Wu has no affiliation with Bruins United and that she is glad UCPD took the appropriate action against the individual.
Kumpel added that the vandalism attacks were disturbing and upsetting for all slates.
Jasmine Hill, Students First! presidential candidate, said that the vandalism attacks were hurtful because signboards allow candidates to express their personalities and present the experience they will bring to the council and fellow students.
Both Kumpel and Hill said they hope to use this as an opportunity to begin a dialogue with all slates to ensure that students are informed about the effects of the vandalism attacks.
“A lot of candidates are really shaken that someone would go so out of their way to personally attack them, so we have to come together to support one another, along with the other slates,” Hill said.
Police received a tip from a member of the campus community, Greenstein said. Wu was charged with felony vandalism as a result of the large number of signs that were damaged.
Wu has been transported to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the dean of students has been notified of the arrest and will take the appropriate steps to evaluate the case within the student code of conduct.