Plaza near Texas A&M alumni center vandalized with statement supporting rape

A plaza near Texas A&M's Aggie Ring sculpture was vandalized early Tuesday morning. A plaza near Texas A&M's Aggie Ring sculpture was vandalized early Tuesday morning. Photo: MAYRA BELTRÁN, CHRONICLE Photo: MAYRA BELTRÁN, CHRONICLE Image 1 of / 39 Caption Close Plaza near Texas A&M alumni center vandalized with statement supporting rape 1 / 39 Back to Gallery

Texas A&M University’s Haynes Ring Plaza has been vandalized with an explosive quotation attributed to a prominent graduate.

"Rape is inevitable may as well enjoy it," the graffiti reads, scrawled in black in front of the bronze Aggie Ring statue. The vandal tagged the statement with "Clayton Williams" with an arrow pointed toward the nearby alumni center that bears his name.

Oilman Clayton W. Williams Jr. graduated from Texas A&M in 1954. In an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 1990, he suggested that rape victims should "relax and enjoy it," remarks that created an uproar. He later apologized.

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Breaking: Texas A&M Aggie Ring plaza vandalized. Graffiti says "Rape is inevitable may as well enjoy it - Clayton Williams" pic.twitter.com/viWKn0EqYl — Rusty Surette (@KBTXRusty) April 4, 2017

Kathryn Greenwade, a spokeswoman for the Association of Former Students, said the vandalism occurred at about 3:50 a.m. Tuesday. The association expects to have the graffiti removed later today, she said.

University police spokesman Bobby Richardson said officers were on the scene late Tuesday morning and were in the process of obtaining video footage. If the cost of cleaning the scene exceeds $750, he said, the person found responsible will be face felony charges of graffiti.

The graffiti comes shortly before Aggie Ring Day, when students close to graduation pose for photos with their families near the sculpture with their class rings.

Texas A&M's alumni association began construction on the alumni center headquarters in 1985, before Williams' remarks on rape. Williams donated $2.5 million toward its construction. The building, situated near Kyle Field, opened in 1987, but it was rededicated with the unveiling of a 12-foot bronze ring replica in 2009.

Williams and his wife have contributed more than $7 million to the university and were recognized in 2015 for their philanthropy, volunteerism and leadership by the Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees.

Williams was considered a frontrunner for governor in 1990 and said he wanted to unite A&M alumni and students as an important voting bloc. He lost eventually to Democrat Ann Richards after a series of campaign gaffes that startled voters over the course of the campaign.

He said he would be "less comfortable" campaigning against a woman after the Democratic primary whittled the candidates down to Richards, then-state treasurer, and then-Attorney General Jim Mattox.

Shortly afterward, he hosted a group of reporters at his ranch. He was overheard comparing bad weather to rape, saying, "If it's inevitable, you might as well relax and enjoy it." He refused to shake Richards' hand later in the campaign.

His remarks on rape drew the ire of John McCain during his presidential campaign. When the remarks resurfaced in June 2008, McCain called off a fundraising event at Williams' home in Midland.

The graffiti came shortly before Aggie Ring Day, when students close to graduation pose for photos with their families near the sculpture with their class rings.

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