University of Pittsburgh police accused a student of causing up to $100,000 in damage to the Cathedral of Learning by spray-painting the name of a labor rights organization some students have pushed the university to join.
Police charged Daniel Khan-Yousufzai, 21, whose listed address is in West Caldwell, N.J., with vandalism and other crimes. Pitt's online records identify Khan-Yousufzai as a registered student in the Honors College studying chemistry and English writing.
Khan-Yousufzai was released Sunday upon posting a $10,000 bond. He could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. A woman who identified herself as his mother declined to comment when reached at the Bigelow Boulevard address Khan-Yousufzai gave police.
Police responding to a report of a man spray-painting inside the Oakland building Saturday morning found Khan-Yousufzai sitting on a bench outside, with black and blue spray paint on his hands, shoes and pants, according to a criminal complaint.
Police found two cans of spray paint in his backpack and a clear bottle of perchloric acid, a corrosive acid that can cause burns. The graffiti was 12 feet by 4.5 feet and said “WRC,” the complaint said.
WRC is an abbreviation for the Workers Rights Consortium, a labor rights monitoring group that focuses on factories that make university-related apparel.
A facilities management employee told police it could cost between $65,000 and $100,000 to repair the damage on the sandstone interior hallway.
Pitt spokesman John Fedele said the graffiti has been removed.
Khan-Yousufzai is not a member nor did he attend meetings of the Pitt chapter of the Americans for Informed Democracy, which has pushed for the university to join the WRC, Vice President Erin Shields said. Students in the group were shocked and angered.
“It was against everything we've worked toward,” said Shields, a sophomore at Pitt. “We were angry, too, because we knew we would be associated with it, and we condemn the actions.”
More than 175 universities and colleges are affiliated with the WRC, according to its website. Pitt is not among them.
“The WRC has no connection with the University of Pittsburgh, but we are appalled by the vandalism committed there,” WRC Executive Director Scott Nova said.
Margaret Harding is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-380-8519 or mharding@tribweb.com.
