Shocked students, teachers and administrators arrived at San
Benito High School Thursday morning to find portions of the campus
graffitied, a prized pig tied up and two engine blocks dropped in
the school pool.
Hollister – Shocked students, teachers and administrators arrived at San Benito High School Thursday morning to find portions of the campus graffitied, a prized pig tied up and two engine blocks dropped in the school pool.
“This was a brazen act of defiance,” SBHS Superintendent Jean Burns Slater said. “But we are not going to let these individuals ruin our graduation.”
Slater said the school had the names of 10 seniors suspected of being involved in the vandalism, but added that an internal investigation is ongoing. Hollister Police Department Spokesman George Ramirez said that no arrests have been made.
Despite increased security, the vandals moved around the school throughout the night, systematically avoiding security personnel, Slater said. They spray painted “Class of 2005” graffiti all over the campus, destroyed and chopped down trees and cut an acid line connected to the pool’s filtration system. The vandals also tried to start a small bonfire on the senior lawn.
The pig, Daisy, was tied up to a piece of rebar in the school quad. She is suffering from sore hind legs, but Daisy’s owner, 15-year-old Future Farmers of America member and SBHS student Josh Masters said that he expects her to make a full recovery.
“I was in disbelief. I couldn’t believe that it really happened, ” Masters said. “I just wanted her to be OK.”
Student reaction to the incident varied. Some students, like Masters, were visibly upset, while others were quick to laugh and point fingers at the phallic symbols spray painted in the senior lawn.
Slater said that the vandalism went far beyond a typical senior prank and that some of the damaged items cannot be replaced. She estimated the damage totaled more than $5,000.
“This is exceptionally bad, this is much worse than in past years,” Slater said, adding: “Students who were involved in the vandalism will not participate in the graduation ceremony.”
Although administrators initially considered postponing graduation until those responsible came forward, they later decided to go ahead with the ceremonies as planned, Slater said. She also said that a $1,000 reward has been offered to anyone with information about those who are responsible for the damage.
“There has been a huge emotional reaction to the vandalism,” SBHS Principal Debbie Padilla said. “This goes far beyond a senior prank.”
Although maintenance workers started to clean up the damage and graffiti around 1 a.m. Thursday, much of the damage was still visible when students arrived at school in the morning.
“This vandalism is totally wrong, destructive and contrary to anything we believe as Balers: Respect, responsibility, honesty, civility, tolerance, caring, courtesy and courage,” administrators wrote in a statement that was read to all students that morning.
“This is just disgusting vandalism,” Padilla said. “This is not funny and this is not a prank.”
