Despite the numerous entrances to Harter Union, one evening visitor decided the roof was a better option Wednesday en route to a path of destruction throughout the third floor and theft of several items.
Associate Dean of Students Mark Zeno said he notified the Baldwin City Police Department Wednesday when he noticed a series of ceiling tiles that had collapsed after arriving at his office around 8:20 p.m.
Zeno said the last to leave the third-floor offices departed around 6 p.m., leaving a two-hour frame for the crimes to have happened.
When police returned Thursday morning, Zeno said he was the only person on that level who had noticed
missing items.
“I wouldn’t have noticed anything was wrong at first if I hadn’t noticed my palm cradle,” Zeno said.
Zeno said his palm pilot led him to discover several other items of his own and the university missing.
Residence Life Coordinator Allison Scahill, who shares an office with Zeno, said she arrived to prepare for a hall staff meeting around 8 p.m.
“I heard a tapping noise and thought it was (Dean of Students John Frazier) or Mark trying to scare me” she said. “I just kind of peeked around, and by 8:20, Mark was in the office.”
Scahill said she was glad not to have had property taken.
“I just think about all the times that I’ve left my bag sitting around. All this stuff that’s been going on has just been crazy,” she said.
Although a series of ceiling tiles had been pushed through the frame, the ceiling collapsed completely inside the door to the office of Susan Wade, director of the Career Development Center.
“It looks like they fell off the beam and crash landed,” Wade said.
Sgt. Greg Schiffelbein of the BCPD said no suspects had been named, and as of Thursday, official reports had not yet been compiled.
“Right now, we’re just in the beginning of investigation,” Schiffelbein said.