CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Someone has spray painted "murderer'' and "Black Lives Matter'' on the statue honoring Confederate veterans nicknamed "Silent Sam'' at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Authorities say they are investigating the vandalism, which was discovered Sunday morning. No suspects have been identified or arrests made.
University spokesman Rick White says the school will continue to discuss whether statues and the names of buildings on campus respect people of all races, but damaging statues is not the way to have that discussion.
"Silent Sam'' was placed on campus in 1913 to honor 321 UNC students who died fighting for the South in the Civil War. He is called "silent'' because he carries a gun but no bullets.
"It should not be removed entirely, but replaced to one of our museums out here because it is an important piece of history," said student Sheryl Fuehrer.
"Given the recent events in Charleston and the controversy with the Confederate battle flag, that the the university should get rid of the statue. If they put up a plaque with the students' names on that, then that would be more fitting," said Durham resident Ted Graham.
University public safety spokesperson Randy Young says they are treating this case as an isolated incident, and he says it's not considered a threat to campus security.
Police would not rule out that this incident is connected to similar vandalism that showed up last week at Maplewood Cemetery in Durham.
Cleanup for the monument resumed Monday afternoon. Young says there's an estimated $1,000 worth of damage.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.