51 W. College St. Waynesburg, PA 15370
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Vol. 90 No. 21
Boston blast hits home Waynesburg alumna experiences explosions first hand Former investigator, WU By Rob Longo instructor speculates reasons, meaning of blasts Editorial Assistant
The recent Boston Marathon bombings happened hundreds of miles away, but a Waynesburg University graduate was there as the events unfolded. “It sounded like extremely loud thunder and I felt a vibration on the ground,” said Hannah Dorean Otteni, a Jefferson, Pa., native. “My initial reaction that it was a bomb, but I had no idea of what a bomb going off felt like. I don’t have any experience in my life of what it was.” Otteni, a Waynesburg University alumna who served as a resident director from 2005 to 2007 while earning her Masters in business administration, was standing near the Boston Marathon finish line to cheer on a friend runner when the first bomb exploded. “At the time of the explosion, I was about a block and a half away,” explained Otteni. “I had received a VIP pass to watch the finish in the grandstands across from where the first explosion took place.” Fortunately, Otteni’s friend crossed the finish line roughly 10 minutes before the first bomb went off. “I’m glad my friend ran at the pace she ran,” Otteni said. “I’m definitely grateful and thankful for that.” Because Otteni’s friend finished the race when she did, Otteni did not see the initial explosion first hand, but she felt the effects and, sadly, witnessed the aftermath.
By Rob Longo
“An attack like this reminds me of what hapEditorial Assistant pened in Centennial Tragedy and terror Park,” said Tanda. “The struck the heart of the crime scene processing New England Monday would essentially be the afternoon after two blasts same.” In addition to the ATF, rocked the last leg of the Tanda said the FBI and the Boston Marathon. Joint Terror“This is ism Task a tragic Force will event for This is a tragic be involved the event for the nation. It’s in the ongonation,” ing investisaid Jim a somber reminder of gation. Tanda, how vulnerable we Tanda said instructor investigaof criminal are. tors will justice. “It’s process the a sobering Jim Tanda entire crime reminder of Former ATF investigator, scene of 12 how vulinstructor of criminal justice city blocks nerable we and look for are. Our components prayers across the nation should be to piece together a suspect. “The investigation will with the victims and their come together,” said families.” Some 600 miles away Tanda. “One of the keys from where the attack will be to not have tunnel occurred, Tanda has a vision early on in the unique take on the ongo- investigation.” Shortly before 3 p.m. ing investigation. Before becoming a full- Eastern Time, Boylston time instructor at Waynes- Street – the site of the burg this year, Tanda spent Boston Marathon’s finish nearly a quarter of a centu- line – went from a scene of ry with the Bureau Alco- celebration and joy to hol, Tobacco, Firearms and destruction and mayhem Explosives as an investiga- in a matter of seconds. Two blasts spaced some tor, especially in explo50 yards and 12 seconds sives. In 1996, a pipe bomb apart transformed particiwent off in Centennial pants into first responders. Media and first person Olympic Park in Atlanta, Ga., during the Olympic accounts show that despite Games. The explosion being faced with horror killed one and injured 111. and fright, first responders Tanda was one of the may have saved countless lead investigators in the lives. Police officers that Atlanta bombing, and said that incident has some served as security for one similarities to the Boston bombing. See BLAST on A4
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Photo courtesy of Hannah Dorean Otteni
Hannah Dorean Otteni, a Waynesburg alumna, snapped this photo from the VIP section at the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday, just minutes before two explosions went off, killing three and injuring more than 100 people. “I heard the explosion and saw a sea of people running,” said Otteni. Her first assumption – Boston had been bombed – proved to be right, even though Otteni had no reason to believe the marathon had been terrorized. When she realized that something was seriously wrong, Otteni phoned her father, John Dorean, a pastor at Jefferson Baptist Church, and told him to turn on the tel-
evision to see what exactly was going on. After Otteni left the grandstands, she met up with her friend, who was recouping in an area designated for marathon runners to make sure they are healthy after finishing the race. It took Otteni between five and 15 minutes to find her friend. “It was really hard finding our friend,” Otteni said. “We tried not to go back to the scene. Every-
thing was blocked off.” Even though Otteni was able to locate her friend, she had a difficult time finding her husband. Otteni’s husband was riding the Boston subway when the services were immediately shut off following the explosions. Her husband was stranded a mile away from where Otteni and her friend were at, but Otteni was unable See BOMBING on A4
Former New Jersey governor to spend week at Waynesburg By Katherine Mansfield Copy Editor Next week, Waynesburg University will welcome former Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman to campus to host a variety of lectures and question-and-answer sessions. “She’s such a great American,” said Dr. Robert Graham, university Provost. “She serves the country
well. We’re excited to have her here.” The university Whitman contacted Whitman through the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, of which she was recently named a fellow. According to the foundation’s website, Woodrow Wilson Fellows include
Nobel Laureates, as well as nationally and internationally recognized men and women dedicated to education. Those honored as Fellows agree to spend extended periods of time giving lectures and interacting with students at various universities. “There’s a whole list of people we could potentially bring to campus,” said Graham. “We don’t just try to get any speaker. We look for someone who’ll con-
tribute to Waynesburg University and connect with our students.” Whitman has served the United States in multiple, impactful ways. Whitman served as governor of New Jersey from 1994-2001, when President George W. Bush appointed her secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency. Whitman currently serves as president of the Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm that spe-
gave her the opportunity to speak well to our students.” Whitman will meet with Dr. Janet Paladino’s environmental biology classes Tuesday to discuss her time as secretary of the EPA and talk about environmental issues and solutions. On Wednesday afternoon, she will meet with select students from the communication departSee GOVERNOR on A3
SPORTS
ARTS & LIFE
REGION
The Jacket baseball team took both games in a doubleheader at Thiel. See Page C1
Students , faculty and community members filled Johnson Commons Sunday to raise money for cancer research during the university’s Relay for Life.
Three local high school students will put their skills to the test on the national level.
INSIDE Copyright © 2013 by Waynesburg University
cializes in energy and environmental issues, and penned the New York Times bestseller “It’s My Party Too.” “Senior leadership looked at people we thought could connect with students in a variety of ways,” said Graham. “With her experience both as Governor of New Jersey as well as secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency, we saw those as two really great roles that
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