The U’s Department of Public Safety announced Tuesday the arrest of three juvenile males in connection with vandalism at the new Carolyn and Kem Gardner Building last weekend. The three suspects, described as local high school students, will be referred to juvenile court on charges of trespass and criminal mischief, according to Dale Brophy, chief of campus police.

The incident prompted a campus-wide email notification on Monday asking for help in identifying possible suspects in the case.

The nature of the vandalism, anti-Black slurs, also drew swift condemnation from the university’s administration. “Racial incidents that attack, bully, and intimidate members of our community are indefensible and have no place on our campus,” wrote President David W. Pershing in a message also signed by Senior Vice Presidents Ruth Watkins and Lorris Betz.

Watkins later praised the U’s police force for “swift action and strong police work in identifying the vandals.”

The building is expected to open for classes and research in fall 2018.