The Salemite
Vol. LXIX No. 7
February 1989
Arriving On Scene Of Attack
by April Edmondson
(The names in this article have
been changed to protect their
identities).
How many times, in the last few
nionths, have you walked from the
pit or FAC parking lot to your dorm
alone? Like most of us we have
thought little about walking across
campus late at night by ourselves.
However, on February 3 our
attitudes changed drastically! At
approximately 1:05 am a shrill,
desperate scream echoed the
campus. No doubt a scream for
help!
As someone stalked the campus,
'vaiting for an opportunity to
attack, Jill Jones was returning from
the pit. As she walked behind
Gramley, a tall black man grabbed
her from behind. Jones knew she
had to attract attention.
Fortunately, Kate Smith
immediately reacted to the
terrifying scream. Smith ran to the
window, and yelled, "I see you!
Leave her alone!" No one knows
what might have happened to
Jones if the "Salem attacker" had
not immediately decided to flee
the area. As the residents of
Babcock and Gramley Dorms sought
to find out what was happening,
public safety was being summoned.
Within two minutes of the scream
for help two officers were there and
in pursuit of the "Salem attacker."
For over two hours the officers
searched the campus and Old
Salem area for the assailant.
Unfortunately, he escaped without
any trace.
During the next forty-eight hours
campus awareness was at its peak.
Many were talking of the previous
night's events and Public Safety
was making trip after trip to and
from the pit and FAC parking lot.
Most of the dorms called special
meetings to alert the students of the
possible danger and to offer some
safety tips. Some of these tips
Car Causes Controversy
by Sarah Mahoney
On Thursday, February 9, a car
^as brought on campus to
emphasize the effects of driving
Under the influence of alcohol. The
ear was demolished as the result of
u drinking and driving accident.
Sonya Cobb, the student who
instigated the project, felt that
awareness needed to be brought to
Salem College. Ms. Cobb spoke
with Ty Rice, who was able to lead
her through the proper channels.
Mr. Rice had executed this program
on several other campuses and
advised her to first contact area
insurance companies. After
explaining her intent to the Integon
Insurance Corporation, Ms. Cobb
was able to secure a car. There were
included carrying a pen or pencil (to
use as a weapon), postitioning your
keys between your fingers, and
calling for an escort.
Although the "Salem attacker"
escaped there was another
assailant on Salem's campus that
was not so lucky. This man was
caught at approximately 11:00 pm
on February 4 peeping into windows
at the Academy. Following
â– questioning, this man was arrested
for trespassing. It is unclear as to
whether or not this man is the
criminal offender.
As student awareness rises on
campus about our security people
have begun asking themselves if
our system works. Obviously the
ability for Salem security officers
to arrive immediately in an
emergency situation was proven on
February 3. But how does our phone
system equal to other campuses?
Right now we have three phones
located at the Alumnae House, the
FAC parking lot, and the pit.
Currently, when you pick up one of
these phones it rings into the Public
Safety Office, where the officer in
the office calls to alert the
patrolling officer. If, for some
unforeseen reason, there is no one in
the office then the call is not
received. Presently, someone is
usually in the office. However, if
that person steps away from the
office the call from an emergency
phone is not acknowledged.
The North Carolina School of
the Arts uses a system that seems to
be effective. Their emergency
phone rings directly to all of the
monitors, which an officer carries
while patrolling.
Public Safety has advised all
students to utilize the phone
systems that we do have on campus
to call for escorts at night. They
stress that if they are not there
right away to wait until they
arrive before attempting to walk
back alone.
four people in the car when the
accident occured in November of
1988. All of the passengers were in
their early twenties, and the front
seat passenger was killed. The
others were seriously injured. No
other details of the accident were
available.
As a standard procedure, the car
was purchased by the insurance
company and therefore was able to
give Ms. Cobb permission to display
it on campus. Ms. Cobb was then
able to have the Greensboro
Salvage Disposal Company tow it
here at no expense.
While administrators expressed
their immediate support, several
student organizations opted not to.
Controversy arose when there was
a miscommunication over the
proper procedure. Student protest
was represented by signs in the
Refectory and around campus.
There were also flyers passed out
stating that if students were
"offended by the action" to call Dr.
Litzenburg and Ty Rice.