Was scrolling down after reading the latest Owen Labrie update and came across this story. Absolutely heartbreaking. And terrifying.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/body-ut-austin-student-found-creek-identified-fine/story?id=38188781
So awful
Breaks my heart. Very sad.
I used to make a pretty long trek from the music building to my dorm at night at UT. I felt perfectly safe, but one night I got home to my roommate on the phone with my boyfriend, the two of them debating about calling the police to report me missing. I was livid. It wasn’t all THAT late, but it was certainly completely dark. I couldn’t believe those two.
Makes me cringe to think about my naivety.
That poor, poor child…I can’t imagine the horribly toxic stew of emotions her parents must be feeling right now. I’ll pray for them, even though God and I haven’t exactly been on the best of terms for years. What else can I do?
A wiki page has been set up in her memory: https://www.everipedia.com/haruka-weiser/
Arrest made:
Two young lives wasted (assuming they arrested the actual perp).
Terrible for her family. Rotten timing in the admission cycle for UT.
I wish people considered statistics. First murder on UT campus since the Tower shootings in 1966. There’s probably been well more than 500,000 students on campus during that time invterval. Driving across town is much more dangerous.
There are several threads on this topic. The one I started 2 days ago got merged into mainelonghorn’s thread from yesterday. here http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1879850-murder-on-ut-austin-campus.html#latest This should probably get merged as well.
Absolutely heartbreaking. I just emailed the article to my own freshman D.
I also emailed it to my H and told him I do to want to hear another word about her monthly Uber charges. This can happen anywhere.
^This. @HarvestMoon1 I had the same conversation with my H last night after some remarks he made about the Uber charges a couple of weeks ago. Safety first…
Interesting that they are warning not to wear earbuds when walking home at night. It might have been a factor in this case.
That is assuming Uber is always safe. A crash or even a driver with issues can happen, too. As safe as we want to keep our kids, stuff can always happen.
Regarding earbuds, I walk to and from a swim class at night, through a park. I stay on the lighted path, and it isn’t far across the park to the pool building. But I made a conscious decision to not wear earbuds the first evening I did it so I can be more aware of my surroundings, and have stuck with that. Maybe will talk to my kids about that, too.
I agree that earbuds and earphones can keep people from being alert and aware of their surroundings and on the lookout for danger and things that aren’t as they may seem. Too many pedestrians are distracted, even when jogging or crossing very busy streets and listening to music can be part of the distraction. Sorry for this young woman and her family–truly awful!
I only wear one earbud out in public while running or whatever, you never know when you will get a warning you will miss, i.e. bicycle bell.
I’ve walked the bridge/creek area where her body is found…our college tour in January took us right through that area. It is very hidden and dark, even in daylight.
I had a talk with D about earbuds and walking out by yourself. The latest video/news release shows her walking by him while she is looking down at her phone and then the news release states he can be seen putting the kickstand down on his bike and pulling out a hard, shiny object and following her into that area. Here is one of the comments from the Austin news article:
UT PD / DPS / UT and APD could care less. The Waller Creek area, from north of campus to Serranos (headed towards Stubbs) is a hangout for junkies, transients and winos. This is on the UT campus folks. Students walking to class basically pass tent city on their way to study hall. UT is lucky that this is the first murder on their campus. No one at UT / APD / DPS has the balls to clean up Waller Creek. Go to a concert at Stubbs / Erwin Center. Park at the state garage and walk Waller Creek at night. It has not been safe for years. Students coming in don’t know it and their parents don’t know it. The trees / shrubs at Waller Creek need to be cut back to the point that you have a clear 360 view. This goes for the Drag as well which is on campus. Walk the F thing at 9 pm at night - no thanks.
Sounds like some improvements are in order in that area - lighting, pruning, etc. Such a sad and scary situation.
Tangentally related, do any of your children, male or female, carry with them a rape whistle or some other similar device? I have a child moving off campus (different city) and have been thinking about this even before this event.
Pepper spray or pepper gel. D has it with her at night at all times. Sabre has a full range of products including personal “alarms.”
https://www.sabrered.com/pepper-spray-and-personal-safety-products
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Interesting that they are warning not to wear earbuds when walking home at night. It might have been a factor in this case.
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An Auburn student was kidnapped from a school parking lot and murdered, several years ago. Her killer admitted that she was easy prey because she had ear phones on and therefore didn’t hear him approach her from behind. and, likely she wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings.