Sub T-16’s Gobmobile infiltrated GATA Fountain early Thursday morning, Oct. 16.
Jimmy Ellison, ACU chief of police, said a WFF employee contacted ACUPD about the occurrence at 5:30 a.m. and officers were immediately dispatched. Upon reaching GATA Fountain, which was turned off at the time, officers found the vehicle abandoned in the fountain. The Gobmobile was instantly towed, leaving no visible damage to the fountain.
The Gobmobile served as Sub T-16’s float in the Homecoming Parade this year. The vehicle is unregistered and unable to be driven legally on the street outside the context of the parade. Because no one was seen at the fountain when police arrived, there is no direct evidence tying members of the club to the prank.
“Even though it was the Gobmobile that was in the Homecoming Parade, to be fair and objective about it, what remains to be determined was who placed it there,” Ellison said.
The case is considered noncriminal because no damages were inflicted on the fountain. Without a criminal case, Ellison said the issue was turned over to the Office of Social Clubs and Organizations.
“Because it does not involve any criminal violations, there is no follow-up for us to do,” Ellison said. “It is more of an administrative and club issue at this point for Student Life to act upon.”
Mark Jackson, associate director of student organizations and programs, has been in contact with Sub T-16 skipper Mason Smith, senior management major from Midland. Jackson said Smith had been kept in the dark during the entire prank.
“Mason gets it,” Jackson said. “He has been great to work with and I trust that he is going to find out what happened.”
This was not the first attack made on GATA Fountain this year. During pledging, benches from Kojie Park were unhinged and left in the fountain.
“I never like anything to end up in the GATA Fountain,” Jackson said. “It’s never a good thing when that happens. Let’s just keep things out of the GATA Fountain.”
Jackson said stolen artifacts are usually found within the first day or so of being missing, however, the missing bench from Kojie Park was not found until about two weeks later.
“Some might view that as a funny prank, but it actually damages the benches and costs the university money to replace them,” Ellison said.
Despite turning the matter over to the Office of Social Clubs and Organizations, ACUPD still takes this issue seriously. Students with information regarding the Gob Mobile being abandoned in GATA Fountain can contact the office of social clubs or ACUPD.
