Environmental Issues takes to the beach
55
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WTHS tries formatted programming —Page 4
Even year wins '91 Pull accross the Black River —Pages 6 &7
Hope College
A t he anchor " September 25, 1991
Harnessing
the winds of change
Bulk Rate U.S. Postage PAID Permit #392 Holland MI
Volume 104, Number 5
Self-defense lecture presents practical advice you don't know what y o u ' r e doing, act like
by Theresa Hamilton
you do," stated Rotman.
staff writer
When driving, Rotman suggests keeping
On Thursday, Sept. 19, a small number of
doors locked at all times. Not only will this
students gathered in Wichers Auditorium for
prevent the doors from springing open in a
a self-defense seminar.
crash, says Rotman, but it will also make it
The seminar is the second phase of the
difficult for someone to enter your car while
Sexual Assault Education Program organized by Fonda Green, director of Special Pro-
you are stopped at a stop sign. Dri vers also need to choose parking spots
grams. This seminar was a follow-up to the
close to the door you need to enter, according
Date Rape Awareness presentations given
to Rotman. He advises that you look around to
earlier this month. The next phase will be
know exactly where you are parked and to
hands-on demonstrations of self-defense to
make sure you remember how your vehicle is
be held around campus and in various dor-
positioned. When you return to your car, get
mitories.
in on the passenger side if the car on your
Thursday's seminar was led by officer
driver's side looks suspicious.
J im Rotman of the Holland Police Department
If you notice a car following you, "don't
(HPD). Rotman has been a member of the
panic," says Rotman. Try pulling into a place
HPD for 20 years, has been involved in martial
that is open 24 hours a day, where you know
arts for 15, and is certified by the state to teach
you will be surrounded by people. Also, make
self-defense.
a phone call to the police station. If all else
Rotman gave some very alarming statistics of crime in Holland. Aggravated assault,
fails, "break the law to get an officer's attenA#
tion.
^
Officer Tim Rotman talks about self-defense as part of the Prevention Awareness program at Hope. Photo by Bret Bussey
or assault with a weapon, increased49 percent
The most important thing to remember
from 1989 to 1990. Non-aggravated assault
when someone is following you is " d o n ' t go
increased 23.4 percent. Criminal sexual con-
home and you never want to go to your best
is to a law enforcement agency." Give the
porting the rape and going through the trial
duct rose 21 percent. Since these figures are
friend's house." If you do this, you are placing
officer your exact location and do not hang up
process, you will feel like you are "reliving
from 1990, Rotman believes many of these
yourself in danger by letting the person know
until you are told to do so. It is very important
the whole thing over again." However, you
violations have significantly increased in
where you or your friend live.
that you do not shower or remove your cloth-
must take comfort in knowing that you are
If your car breaks down on the high way,
ing until the police arrive. This will provide
helping to prevent this man from hurling you
lock your doors and pop the hood. Don't get
more evidence for the police and enable them
or anyone else ever again.
Rotman offered many tips to follow both
out and walk. If someone pulls up to you,
to have a better chance of apprehending the
on and off of campus. First, " D o n ' t walk
crack the window and ask if they will call the
criminal.
alone, don't jog alone, don't do nothing alone."
police, Rotman advocates.
number, and that some of the crimes may have even doubled in number.
R o t m a n ' s final word of advice is to " g o on your gut feeling." If you think something is
Once you have reported the rape, you
wrong, trusi that feeling. Do not assume that
He suggests to instead call a friend for com-
If you lire raped, try to keep your mind
will need a medicinal exam at the hospital.
everything will be okay and do not try to take
pany, or use the shuttle van which runs from
going; do not shut down. Take a good look at
This will be followed by an interview with a
matters into your own hands unless abso-
seven in (he evening to one in the morning.
the criminal and make a mental description,
police officer. You will be asked extremely
lutely necessary. Instead, learn to walk in
never letting the
which can later be told to the police. "If you
personal questions by both the officer and the
groups and call the police if you feel you are
assailant know if you are frightened. "Even if
are ever raped, the first phone call vou make
attorneys at the court procedure. When re-
in danger, according to.
Next, he suggested
Students sleep out to aid area homeless by Jill Flanagan news editor With temperatures predicted to drop into
According to Mike Theune ('92), the
good opportunity to become closer as a floor,
one will take it over next year but I have no
cold takes some getting used to. Upon leav-
VanHeest described the night as "sort of
idea who. It would be neat to se^.it continue."
ing, Theune said, " I ' m going to go drink
like a homeless camp. People were just wan-
At the first sleepout, more than 200 people
something hot and get some sleep."
dering around socializing and sitting in groups
showed up and more than $2,200 was raised.
talking."
VanHeest believes, however, that more people
the upper 30's, nearly 75 people still turned
Sleep was apparently not easy to come by
out for the Second Annual Sleepout for the
for the students. Said John Ream ('93), "I
The future of the now-annual event is
Homeless last Wednesday night.
didn't get to sleep until 4:00 and then I woke
uncertain as both organizers Grotenhuis and
up at 5:45 with the rain."
Todd Abbot are graduating this year.
According to Tim Grotenhuis ('92) who organized the event through the chaplain's
Even though Jeff Bannink ('92) did not
office, about 250 people had signed up to
get to sleep until 2:00
spend the night in boxes in the Pine Grove.
and got up to study
Said Grotenhuis, "At first I was kind of
for a test at 5:30, he
displeased that so few showed up but then I
maintains that, " It
was pleased that at least these people were
was fun; we had a
becoming aware."
good time."
Virtually all of the night's homeless were
Bannink agreed
students although the faculty was represented
to do the sleepout be-
by Chaplains Gerry VanHeest and Laura
cause "there are no
Meyer. Director of Housing and Residential
parietals in the Pine
Life Robin Ball had also planned to sleep out
Grove...Actually, I
but was unable to because of illness.
am very interested in
year many people left early on. This year, Grotenhuis and VanHeest
See 'Sleep* pageS
.
Most of the students stayed the night,
helping and under-
although many left around 6:00 a.m., an hour
standing the h o m e -
before the scheduled end, when the rain and
less."
hail began. However, a few die-hard home-
S e v e r a l of the
less, including Meyer, were still asleep at 8:00
studentson Bannink's
a.m.
floor where he is an Said Grotenhuis, ' T h o s e who stayed be-
Said Grotenhuis, "My hope is that some-
stayed the whole night this year while last
RA also participated.
came more aware of that homeless people
According
have a rough time."
B a n n i n k , it w a s a
to
Jianna Smalley, Leigh Ann Kayser, and Kim Haight prepare for a night out in the Pine Grove for the Homeless-a-thon last weekend. Phot hy Bret Rnsspy
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