Night of 'sightseeing' leaves Tech Tower T-less

By Scott Lange
News Staff
photo by Carrie Chin

In an attempt to preserve Tech tradition, a group of students endeavored to climb to the top of Tech Tower and steal the infamous "T" on the night of November 6. However, the "T" was recovered after the Georgia Tech police, in response to an anonymous call, detained a total of ten Georgia Tech students.

The caller told Georgia Tech Police dispatchers that he had heard people talking about stealing the "T" on his scanner. The responding officers found four students with rappelling gear, hunting knives, and portable radios coming off the roof of the Administration Building. The students, who were identified as George McDonald, Scott Serbin, William Moore, and Justin Preyer, told police officers that they were "sightseeing" upon questioning.

Three more students, who were identified as Brad Dentinger, Rob Eckard, and John Molnar were stopped while they were leaving the area at Cherry Street and North Avenue.

Additionally, three students were stopped whle leaving the area around the ME-Coon Building. They were identified as John Dicasali, Tim Store, and Jessica Judd. Judd told officers that she knew about the theft.

A second call from the anonymous tipster directed police to the Copper Kettle on Howell Mill Road. Police arriving at the Copper Kettle found the "T" in a Ford Explorer in the parking lot. The car was impounded, thus leading to the recovery of the "T."

The "T," which is as synonymous with Tech as the Ramblin' Wreck, did not come away from the incident unscathed.

"There was substantial damage done to the framing of the letters on all four sides, the roof of the Administration Building, the letters themselves," Georgia Tech Police Chief Jack Vickery said. "We haven't got the final estimate from Facilities but it is in the thousands of dollars."

All of the students who were involved in the theft were referred to the Dean of Students for administrative punishment rather than being criminally charged. According to Chief Vickery, this type of procedure is standard.

"In the history of Georgia Tech, no one has ever been arrested for stealing the 'T,'" Chief Vickery explained.

Acting Senior Associate Dean of Students Scott Friedman is handling the discipline stemming from this incident. The Administration is dealing with the theft in a serious manner.

"Stealing the 'T' is a violation of the Student Conduct Code," Friedman stated. "We take all violations of the Student Conduct Code very seriously."

"The big issue as far as the police are involved is safety," Chief Vickery explained. "The folks involved think they took precautions, but that is shortsighted. There is danger to the people that have to get up there and try to fix it."

Georgia Tech administrators are also concerned about the risks involved with stealing the "T."

"It is not a minor thing," Dean Friedman said. "Students could be severely injured or even killed."

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