2010-11 issue12

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the review washburn university

WWW.WASHBURNREVIEW.ORG • (785) 670-2506 • 1700 S.W. College • topeka, kan. 66621

‘Hypnotic Record’ video premiere set for Friday night Page A7 Serving Washburn University since 1873

volume 137, Issue 12 • wednesday, November 17, 2010

Student escapes late night close call Robert Miller WASHBURN REVIEW

was yelling and screaming to put the car in park and she had a knife in her hand,” said McEachern. Last month a member of the WashAt this time she realized that burn community came face-to-face all five assailants had knives in their with a situation that opened up their hands. eyes to the community around her. “As soon as I saw she had a big At 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 15, knife in her hand, I looked around and Meaghan McEachern, freshman, and all five of the people who were there, a friend were attacked near 12th and there were two females and three Lane streets. males, all had big switchblades in their “I was going to pick up a friend hands,” said McEachern. from a house party on Garfield and we McEachern says the woman began just took a route down Lane and then stabbing at her, specifically her hand, we took a turn on to 12 street,” said in an attempt to get her off the phone. McEachern. It became apparent to McEachern that As McEachern and her friend the assailants wanted her car. began to turn left on a green arrow at “They were trying to yank the the intersection a car came flying past driver out of the car because I’m pretty them. positive their intention was to steal my “As we took the turn a car flew vehicle,” said McEachern past us and stopped abruptly in front Finally, her attackers fled after of us and a male was driving and then McEachern kept yelling four words; he had to slam on the brakes,” said the cops are coming. McEachern. “As soon as I kept yelling ‘the Once the car that had approached cops are coming, the cops are coming’ from behind pulled in front of their ve- they got in their car and drove away,” hicle, events became more serious. said McEachern. “Five people got out of the vehiAfterwards McEachern continued cle in front of us and came to my car to stay on the phone with dispatch. and started trying to punch in the win“I was on the phone with dispatch dows,” said McEachern. and I kept repeating the license plate McEachern recalls not reacting number and the car and what color and quickly enough as the situation un- make and everything,” said McEachfolded. ern. “[The dispatcher] kept asking me “We didn’t react fast enough to where I wanted to meet an officer and get the doors locked so they got into the only place I was comfortable with the vehicle and two of them were was to be at campus, so I told the offibeating the driver in the face and ev- cer to meet me in the [Living Learning erything and punching him and trying Center] parking lot.” to get him out of the vehicle,” said Afterwards, McEachern came to McEachern. the realization that the she came close While two of the assailants were to being killed. attacking Meaghan’s friend, she was “Nothing was stolen from my veable to get on her cell phone and call hicle,” said McEachern. “I was very the police dispatch. confused by the fact nothing was sto“By this len because time I was al- “ there were two ready on the them beatThey were trying to yank of phone with ing up on the dispatch just the driver out of the driver and the screaming at one woman them to find car because I’m pretty with me and the our location be- positive their intention other two just cause I wasn’t stood there.” aware of what was to steal my vehicle McEachstreet we were ern was also on and just for able to help - Meaghan McEachern them to come,” police in their Freshman said McEachhunt for her atern. ” tackers. During the “I was able time McEachern was on the phone to get a pretty good look at the female with dispatch, a female assailant had on my side but not the other two who jumped into the car to attack her. were beating on the driver.” “Then I realized that there was a Being able to get a good look at female who had gotten in on the pas- least one of the assailants had allowed senger side where I was sitting and she Meaghan to identify her assaulters at

Photo by Mike Goehring, Washburn Review

A return to the scene: Meaghan McEachern, a Washburn freshman, was held up at knifepoint roughly one month ago. The attempted carjacking took place a few yards from the S.W. 12 St. and Lane St. intersection near campus. While both the driver and McEachern escaped relatively uninjured, the attackers also attempted to rob and steal in other separate incidents across Topeka that night. the Topeka police station. “I have gone to the police station and identified them,” said McEachern. “I don’t know at the current moment if they were caught or not but I know [the police] had some leads.” McEachern said that her and her friend were not the only victims of the assailants that night. “That same night actually, the same people had gone and done a few more robberies and had tried to attempt to steal another vehicle,” said McEachern. Family and friends of McEachern were very concerned for her safety and even questioned her staying in Topeka to go to Washburn. “My parents were very concerned about my safety” says McEachern. “A lot of people asked me, ‘does this change your idea of going to Washburn next year? Do you feel safe enough in Topeka to even stay there at the school?’”

When asked whether or not she knew 12th and Lane streets was a bad area, McEachern said she was unaware. “I did not. I’m not from Topeka and I haven’t travelled Topeka very much but I know multiple people who live on 13th street and College avenue so I assumed if they lived there and they commute around there I wouldn’t be attacked.” McEachern said that her experience has taught her many lessons that she is fortunate to be able to apply in the future. “I know it’s very important to stay on main streets at night,” said McEachern. “As soon as it’s dark, don’t go on side streets. I’m always very, very cautious. I don’t get gas at night. I know that [Topeka] is a lot worse of an area than I thought it was originally.” McEachern has also found a variety of ways to protect herself from now on.

“My parents have gotten me mace since then and I’m going to start carrying a bat in my car. I’m definitely taking a lot more safety precautions as to staying safe and making sure I go where I need to go and not go any side streets.” McEachern also gives some advice for other young women and men who go to Washburn. “Be aware of the locations that are the worst in Topeka and where you can’t travel after dark without being in harm’s way,” said McEachern. “Make sure you always, always lock your car doors and keep your windows rolled up while you’re driving if you have to drive at night. Be careful if you’re trying to go to and from parties.”

Robert Miller is a freshman french major. Reach him at robert.miller@washburn. edu

Vigil held to support victims of bullying and abuse Timothy Lake WASHBURN REVIEW

Photo by Zachary Lambert, Washburn Review

See what kind of role Washburn student Kenneth Ecker has played since joining the band Elcktrikchair

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anyone. Resa Boydston, the secretary and treasurer of OPEN, said 94 percent of GLBT individuals have reported being the victim of some form of harassment. The vigil is a start for raising awareness over this issue, and is not a one-time thing said Heather Schimmel co-president of the social justice league. “The number one thing students can do is to become aware of what they are doing to their fellow students, fellow people.” said Christy Cheray, co-president of OPEN. The Ally program is an effort at Washburn that involves professors training in order to be an ally for students who are struggling through issues with

Please see VIGIL page A2

Check out where the Lady Blues ended up for NCAA regionals

sports

Look at a recent Q&A session with newly elected Kansas Representative Garrett Love

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news & opinion

Bringing light: Washburn gathered last Wednesday to show awareness for victims of teenage bullying. The event was inspired by an event at Rutgers University where a young student committed suicide after a video of him was leaked on the Internet.

about thoughts, experiences, and the experiences of their friends who suffered from bullying. Washburn University students, “We were initially inspired befaculty, and staff stood cause of the Rutgers inin the glow of candles, “ cident,” said Penny Engathered together in gler, co-president of the Students can grief over the suicides Social Justice League, become allies too, of five teenagers as a re“It’s not just him you so that’s number sult of being bullied. know, there’s tons and one. It’s not just The Social Justice tons of kids and adults faculty and staff League, OPEN, and the all over the world that Washburn Student Govhave to deal with the ef- Marsha Carrasco Cooper ernment Association fects of bullying we just Director, SAGL came together to orgawant to raise awareness nize a vigil in support of it.” ” against every victim of bullying Engler also said it at 6 p.m. last Wedneswas important to know day at the Kuehne Bell Tower. that bullying doesn’t just happen to The vigil involved students, fac- gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, ulty, and staff members who spoke or nerdy teenagers. It can happen to

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