SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – A taxidermic Musk Ox and three wall displays were damaged this past weekend in an act of vandalism at the Gateway Center building at SUNY ESF.
In an incident that students are calling “cow-tipping,” someone broke the glass around the display and knocked over the stuffed ox on the north side of the building. Three displays of concourse species nearby were also damaged.
Chief of Police Thomas Leroy sent an email to students and faculty, calling it a “random act of criminal mischief.”
SUNY ESF student Jennifer Linden said the news spread beyond the email.
“I’ve looked at the Facebook page for ESF and everyone is really annoyed about that because we really like our taxidermies and respect them,” said Linden.
Linden says that this incident is disrespectful to the person who taxidermized the animal and to the animal itself. Other students at ESF were quick to share their disappointment about the incident.
“It’s really upsetting someone would just blatantly disrespect it like that,” said Lucas Fischer. “Taxidermy can be used as a way to introduce people to animals they wouldn’t normally see and this is just disappointing.”
Taxidermy is not only an important educational tool for the students, but it is also considered an art. It is a laborious activity that the SUNY ESF students are taught to respect.
The University Police Department is working with local police to identify the person or people responsible. Police want anyone with information to contact University Police at SUNY ESF at 315-470-6667.
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Following the vandalism incident at SUNY ESF's Gateway Center, the Musk Ox has been removed. Other taxidermic animals remain.
© 2019 Alexandra King -
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The other taxidermic animals on display at the Gateway Center at SUNY ESF were not damaged.
© 2019 Alexandra King
