09-25-1991

Page 1

Environmental Issues takes to the beach

55

—Page 2

£

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

_ _ _ _


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.