In the past few days, recent happenings around campus have surfaced certain atrocities that have, for the most part, managed to stay out of the limelight as of late. That is all about to change. On September 26th, a female student was attacked by three men and brutally assaulted landing her in the hospital with several cracked ribs, a left eye so swollen that vision isn’t currently possible, and many other maladies not to be mentioned. The three men, all estimated to be close to six feet tall, one with blonde hair, jumped her from behind, leaving her unable to truly identify her attackers. All students received the campus email making them aware of this attack. DO NOT take that email lightly. Although it was brief due to lack of information at the time, the true nature of the assault was severely understated. It so happens that The Clock is taking a personal interest in this assault, as the victim is a close acquaintance to The Clock staff. The staff and writers are sticking their noses into the wind to sniff out any explanation, any suspect, and any lead that they can pass to the police. The staff will be taking all measures necessary to alert the student body of this threat of violence brought upon by members of our own community.
Is this what Plymouth State is all about? This campus is not about attacks and violence. This campus is about raising $3,100 for hurricane victims, and continuing our efforts in putting on a benefit concert with the intent to give more of our hard-earned time and money to those less fortunate. Plymouth State students should not be afraid to call campus police to report anyone following them or lurking outside of their apartment. Call the police, make sure they log your report, and get your complaints documented! The police are here to help you. Make sure they do. Students should not have to be scared walking home alone at night. When parking at the P.E. Center late at night, call campus police for a ride. With the disbandment of Safe Walk, many students have resorted to calling friends and neighbors to come escort them home. For the time being, this is an excellent practice, and is suggested by all parties concerned. But should this type of action be necessary at a college? Taking away basic freedoms is not and should not be tolerated. Plymouth State was not built on the principles of fear, control and hurt- it was built on the principals of education, caring and giving back.
The students of this school need to stand together in support of this current victim, the student who was followed from Russell Street back to the White Mountain Student Apartments, and the students harassed by people staring into their windows at night-all recent occurrences of violence on our campus.
Readers- the student body, The Clock staff, and the victim of the September 26th attack expect you to keep both eyes open and both ears to the ground. It is absolutely necessary within these next weeks to do all you can to bring these assailants to justice. We all know, by no fault of professional parties involved, that as time passes, the more people forget, memories get blurry, and passing important comments begin to mean less and less.
The only way the assailants will get caught is by a passing word, or a drunken slipup at a party. The police are doing what they can, and it is our duty to help them in their investigation. Report any information you may have about this attack, or other acts of violence to the campus police. Please, do not let things go unnoticed, and always be careful walking alone at night. We owe it to ourselves as students to get the best experience possible while we’re here. We owe our support to this victim in bringing her justice, as it could just have easily been us.
To the students: Keep your eyes open and please stay safe.
To the assailants of the September 26th attack: Don’t slip. The campus is watching you.