I'm a little scared...

[AngieDoogles]

A girl was "assaulted" on campus Monday night at 10 o'clock. The person who did it was about 6 feet tall, wore all black, and was wearing a clown Halloween mask which means he definitely went out with the intent to do that. The scary thing is, Brendon and I get out of our class at 10 tonight. I know I'll be safe since he'll be with me, but still...it's scary!

It's also not the first time that something terrible has happened on campus. Brendon's best friend was abducted while walking to his car one night on campus and later murdered. That was back in 2001.

It just seems that a college campus is not a very safe place to be at night...

[Tink]

Oh wow!
I'd be scared too!

Please try to be sure there's always someone with you... any chance you can get hold of some pepper spray? It might be a good deterrant to just carry in your hand when you're anywhere you feel at risk. My dh bought me some when I was a realtor... 'cause there was some wacko setting up appointments on vacant properties and attacking female realtors. Thank God I never had to use it.

[Janet]

No place is safe anymore Angie...sadly, it's a fact of life now. Rule of thumb is NEVER be out alone. Assaults and abductions happen day or night.

[Bizzymammabee]

Just be very careful and try to walk in groups when you do have to be out. It's a sad reflection that we have to be so cautious. Get some mace or something and keep it with you or maybe one of those air horns and have that in hand when walking at night.

[Mandy]

Angie, carry a small can of hairspray with you, or even better pepper sray if that is allowed, here it's forbidden, and seen as a weapon. Dont go out alone, some people are really nuts, walk out in a group if that is possible.

Things happen day & night, always be aware.

Stay safe!!

[Marilyn]

All I can add is wishes for your safety!! Always be alert to your surroundings and take care!!!

[AngieDoogles]

Well, we made it home alright. Hopefully the guy with the clown mask was a one-time thing... I don't have anymore late classes until next Wednesday...

[Bizzymammabee]

You know what I would still carry that mace or pepper spray even if it's illegal. If it means saving my life then so be it I will take the slap on the wrist from the cops. It's amazing how they always want to penalize the wrong person.

Anyways....glad that you are safe.

[Gina]

Angie you have been given excellent advice , just be careful and always be alert to your surrondings. Don't you have campus sercurity guards riding around? I am sorry to hear what happened to Brendons friend that is so sad....Please be careful..

[DianaB]

You have gotten some very good advice. Just make sure that you don't let your guard down and stay aware of your surroundings. I would sure get a sprayer filled with pepper spray and hold it in your hand whenever you're outside. You never know but it might come in handy some day. We gave pepper spray to our daughter when she went to college. Thank goodness she never had to use it. Stay safe and remember you have angels watching over you.

[AngieDoogles]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone! I'm lucky that I don't have any late classes when Brendon isn't with me.

They sent out another email today saying that the girl wasn't hurt physically and that there had been no more reported incidents so maybe (hopefully!) it was a one time thing.

[DianaB]

Let's hope so!!!

[judy]

How awful and scary! I know you and Brendon will be careful, but maybe you can take your keys and hold them in you palm, with the end of a key sticking through each finger. Someone taught me that. Its a good weapon for the moment.
Hopefully, they'll catch him before next Wednesday.

How sad about Brendon's friend.

Both of you stay safe.

[Chandra Amaya]

Angie, I have one other thing to add since I know the campus alittle. They do have alert beacons. Take notice of where all the ones close to where you walk are. I know campus security doesn't do alot, but they do respond to those very quickly. and to answer Gina's question there is campus security, but they seem to be more concerned with coffee and writing parking tickets than anything else. As for Brendon's friend it was a very sad situation. As far as I know noone has ever been convicted. I do believe they found out who did it, but never really tried to do much about it. I also had a friend who was shot over a card game and the one who shot him still roams free. There is no legal system here.

[AngieDoogles]

Actually Traci, the two men who killed James were convicted on charges of carjacking resulting in death, armed bank robbery, and conspiracy. The latest I heard was that the really bad one appealed to get the trial named a mistrial since media coverage was so huge in this area and surrounding states. There was a completely evil man who actually murdered Brendon's friend and one who I think didn't realize what the other was capable of until it happened. Luckily, they upheld the original ruling and both are still in jail. Thank goodness! The really bad one had planned to continue carjacking and robbing banks, which surely would've led to more murders. Oh and both were military trained and the bad one had a sniper rifle in his garage. If they ever let him out, I will be INCREDIBLY upset.

[katepoet]

When the campus I was on had similar problems - a man running about raping and another one knifing women, we got a self-defense class going, run by a woman who knew karate. She taught us some basic moves and had us practice pretty close to each other. That was 30 years ago and I still go into the defensive stance she taught us if I am startled out in the dark. Hope you can attend something similar.

[AngieDoogles]

When the campus I was on had similar problems - a man running about raping and another one knifing women, we got a self-defense class going, run by a woman who knew karate. She taught us some basic moves and had us practice pretty close to each other. That was 30 years ago and I still go into the defensive stance she taught us if I am startled out in the dark. Hope you can attend something similar.

That's a great idea Kate! Unfortunately, I just don't have time for another activity. I've been pretty swamped lately!

[katepoet]

I know I only went to a few sessions. It's kind of funny know since I limp and am not very stable - I'm more likely to make an attacker die of laughter than run away scared! lol

I hope, down the road, that you get the time. Meanwhile, make sure your cell phone has a GPS chip and that you put in writing that your honey has permission to locate you with the GPS chip. Notarized.

[AngieDoogles]

I know I only went to a few sessions. It's kind of funny know since I limp and am not very stable - I'm more likely to make an attacker die of laughter than run away scared! lol

I hope, down the road, that you get the time. Meanwhile, make sure your cell phone has a GPS chip and that you put in writing that your honey has permission to locate you with the GPS chip. Notarized.

Thank Kate. Luckily, the only night class I have, we have together. It gets out at 10 on Wednesdays so I have a big strong handsome escort to take me to the car. LOL :p But I do think every woman should know at least basic self-defense...

[katepoet]

I love taking classes with my husband or just learning something new together. It always brings us closer.

When his mother was ill and we were her caretakers, we still went out every Tuesday night for an American Sign Language class and supper at a diner. It turned out to be useful. I was trying to get his mother to get well so I would try to make her get out of bed and do for herself. (The days before doctors recognized depression in seniors.)

He'd get home in the evening and go upstairs to see her. He'd sit by her window and she'd tell him just what she wanted that I'd been trying to make her do all day! So I stood in the doorway behind her back - she didn't hear a thing - and signed the answers to her questions to him, to help shore him up. (He had a hard time saying "no" to anything she wanted.) She was a sweetheart and we wanted her to keep living so... a little subterfuge!

We also learned computers together and worked together for several years. The friendship we forged was a strong base that made it possible to weather the years to come. After his mom, there was our son in pain, my father's dying, and the ravages of Lyme. But the trust formed in those early times kept us faithful and knowing we were loved, no matter how little time we could spend together.

I wish you the same - a strong friendship, faith, trust, and love to last all your days!

[AngieDoogles]

I love taking classes with my husband or just learning something new together. It always brings us closer.

When his mother was ill and we were her caretakers, we still went out every Tuesday night for an American Sign Language class and supper at a diner. It turned out to be useful. I was trying to get his mother to get well so I would try to make her get out of bed and do for herself. (The days before doctors recognized depression in seniors.)

He'd get home in the evening and go upstairs to see her. He'd sit by her window and she'd tell him just what she wanted that I'd been trying to make her do all day! So I stood in the doorway behind her back - she didn't hear a thing - and signed the answers to her questions to him, to help shore him up. (He had a hard time saying "no" to anything she wanted.) She was a sweetheart and we wanted her to keep living so... a little subterfuge!

We also learned computers together and worked together for several years. The friendship we forged was a strong base that made it possible to weather the years to come. After his mom, there was our son in pain, my father's dying, and the ravages of Lyme. But the trust formed in those early times kept us faithful and knowing we were loved, no matter how little time we could spend together.

I wish you the same - a strong friendship, faith, trust, and love to last all your days!

That's so sweet Kate! We really try hard to keep things new and exciting in our relationship. We have several classes together (three this semester) and have "date nights" quite often. Other times, we just make it a point to stay home and really focus on each other's needs by talking, spending time together, playing a board game, watching a movie, whatever happens to suit us on that particular night.

We hope to continue taking classes with each other even though next semester is the last required university class we'll ever have together. (Next semester is my last core class and from then on I have only major classes.) I'd love to take a class with him every summer for the rest of our lives. There are so many different classes that are appealing to me...sign language, photography, self-defense, racquetball, study abroad classes, etc, etc, etc.

I think quality time and communication are two of the MOST important aspects of a marriage and it leads to all of the wonderful things you mentioned--friendship, faith, trust, and love!

[Janet]

All women should remember that even if this guy is caught or nothing more happens...not to get too comfortable and forget about it. That's when a lot of things happen, when people get so they are not paying attention any longer.