Graffiti strikes art museum construction site for second time

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For the second time since construction began, the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum allegedly was graffitied sometime between June 1 at 8 p.m. and June 2 at 6 a.m., MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said.

Several loose plywood boards and the cement floor on the east side of the building were spray-painted, McGlothian-Taylor said.

The damage was minimal and cost nothing to repair, said Michael Rush, director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum.

Damage was repaired within 24 hours, Rush said.

“This one was very minor,” he said. “I never like it to happen at all, (but this incident) was dealt with very quickly and at no cost.”

In mid-April, concrete panels on the building were vandalized, causing an estimated $1,000 in damage.

Since then, a team of two security guards was hired to patrol the site at night and on weekends, Rush said. Contractors and workers monitor the area during the day, he said.

Additionally, MSU police regularly patrol the area, Rush said.

The recent graffiti most likely was done while security guards and workers were not at the site, Rush said. Time changes from winter to summer shifts accounted for a one to two hour period when the area was not monitored, he said.

Now, shifts have been adjusted to ensure the area is patrolled all hours of the day, Rush said.

In the past year, vandalism — particularly graffiti — has been more common in East Lansing,” East Lansing police Capt. Bill Mitchell said.

Increased patrol and awareness will help combat vandalism, he said.

Patrolling parking ramps — where vandalism often occurs — for suspicious activity might reduce incidences, Mitchell said.

“We’d like to take action,” he said. “Personal property damage or business property damage — you don’t want to let that stuff go.”

Still, the incident at the museum’s construction site was isolated and Rush is not concerned about future acts of vandalism.

“I feel confident that we’re covered now,” Rush said.

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