UW Responds to Incident Near Sorority House

The University of Wyoming is investigating after responding to an incident that took place Thursday evening near the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house.

The incident involved three people placing flyers on vehicles; placing rocks painted with messages on the ground; and writing in chalk on the sidewalk. Many of the messages were related to the sorority’s admission of a transgender student as a member. The individuals exercised their free speech rights, and no citations were issued.

The UW Police Department (UWPD) was alerted at about 5 p.m. that flyers were being placed on vehicles along King Avenue. The people placing the flyers were told that placing handbills on vehicles without the consent of the owners was a violation of a city ordinance, and the individuals then removed the flyers they had placed.

More than 20 painted rocks placed on the ground were removed and retained by the UWPD and others. They were treated as abandoned property.

Because the chalk writing did not permanently deface property, it did not constitute criminal conduct. The chalk messages were washed off by UW employees.

The three people left the area between 5:30-5:40 p.m. and are believed to be from out of state.

The UWPD has been and will continue to provide enhanced security around Sorority Row.