WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A ‘50S PROM MEETS A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM?
7 GOLDEN GATE XPRESS //
WOMAN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN SF STATE DORM ROOM
STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER PROUDLY SERVING THE SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1927.
// 10.12.11
VOLUME LXXXXI ISSUE 1
FORMER BOYFRIEND OF MICHELLE LE RUNS MARATHONS IN LOVED ONES’ MEMORY After the tragedy of losing his father to cancer and the murder of his former girlfriend, Jason Manalang turned his despair into determination by running marathons and inspiring others.
kealan@mail.sfsu.edu
Many SF State students were shocked to hear about the sexual assault that occurred in the Towers at Centennial Square dormitories between 5-8 p.m Friday, Sept. 30. woman, who was not an SF State student, was lured into the building’s elevator by a man who A woman in he knew of the search of a party said party she was going at the Towers at to attend in the dorms Centennial Square and was going to take her there. The woman was coaxed into told police that the an unkown room suspect took her to an
in the building before the attack took place.
room and proceeded to sexually assault her. The subject is described by University police as being between 18 and 22 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches, mixed race and with short hair. posted around campus dormitories. “I’m shocked,” said Rebecca Corona who has lived in the Towers for the last year. “I feel extremely safe (on campus).” What may come as a surprise is the comparable recent crimes that have occurred on campus. While petty theft and vandalism are the most common criminal acts, within the last two weeks police have also investigated a sexual battery case and a report of a stalker. The sexual battery case was closed when police ers, where they arrested a suspect, according to the University police crime log. The incident involving a stalker was closed at the scene after police took a report Saturday, Oct. 1 from Stevy Shadwick, who said a man chased her home. Shadwick, who lives in the Village at Centennial Square, said the man was someone she had met before, but he followed her home on Muni after she repeatedly asked to be left alone. “I was, like, running through campus on the phone with my roommate,” Shadwick said. “He was a creep. When he actually followed me back to my building I called the (University) police.” Shadwick said she used to feel relatively safe on campus, and consistently saw campus police “hanging around,” but now she is more aware of her surroundings. According to the annual Campus Security and Fire Report, which was published in late September, there were a total of three sex offenses on campus last year. the importance of students learning how to prevent sexual assaults by staying aware of surroundings
bbalisi@mail.sfsu.edu
As news spread about the disappearance of SF State alumna Michelle Le in May, Jason Manalang could do nothing but be still. Everything in his life was starting to get on track until he saw his former girlfriend’s face all over the TV. “I was frozen,” Manalang said. “For hours I could do nothing but sit there. I couldn’t accept it.” Now, three months later, Manalang is working toward graduating in the spring while facing the reality that Le’s not coming back. He admitted he was only able to gather enough strength to attend the Manalang said. “I don’t know what I would’ve felt if I found her, but I owed it to her to support her family.” Manalang said being at the fundraising events for the norm while he secretly dealt with the tragedy. Attending the public funeral service for Le was even harder because his normally strong exterior was unable to withstand the emotional breakdown of more than 150 people.
“I’ve been known to be this ‘Super Manalang’ that’s supposed to be strong through anything,” Manalang said. “But seeing her whole family and friends hurting, I couldn’t help but break down.” Manalang described Le as the prototypical “ride or die chick” with a smile that still burns an image in his head today. He said he and Le had their tough times together, but through it all she was always there by his side. Despite everything that happened between them, they always kept in touch with one another. “I never stopped loving her even after we broke up,” Manalang said. “She meant so much to me.” Manalang’s older cousin Danny Manalang said although it wasn’t the end result they were looking for, Jason was always positive throughout the ordeal, delivering wristbands and shirts made with Le’s name, hoping it would bring her home. “It was a tough situation for anyone to face, but with all things considered he’s handled it well,” Danny Manalang said. Manalang said Le’s death brought him one of the darkest moments in his life, but he strives on try-