Report: ASU alumni calls police over UA painting ‘A’ Mountain
Nov 19, 2014, 11:59 AM | Updated: 11:59 am
PHOENIX — There was a time when the Arizona State University-University of Arizona rivalry was just that — a rivalry — and not a police situation.
Sigh.
KPHO-TV reported the ASU alumni group called the police after the symbolic “A” on Hayden Butte on the Tempe campus was painted UA colors a few weeks before the schools’ annual game.
“We take really great care and follow strict guidelines to make sure the environment isn’t negatively impacted,” said Dan Turbyfill with the ASU Alumni Association. He said if they’re not the ones painting the “A” on A Mountain with students, like they do in the first week of school and again before the first football game, they file a police report for criminal damage.
“Any type of painting or vandalism or trespassing,” Turbyfill said.
Turbyfill told the station the vandals left paint cans and other trash near the A and the police report was filed based on environmental concerns.
Tempe Police Lt. Scott Smith said his department took Turbyfill’s report, but are focused on other crime.
“We look at the intent behind why something is done,” Smith said. “The intent is rivalry and we feel it wouldn’t be a responsible use or allocation of police resources.”
The case has been transferred to ASU police.
