2008 Woodie Awards
Bolivar murder near but unrelated to SBU
Chris Stroud
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Forum
But then she goes on to say that Cornell was "left in the parking lot for someone at the college apartment complex to find him."
All three of these reports aired on the nightly news, and the transcripts are still on each station's websites. Sharina Smith, director of Marketing and Communications, issued a press release Monday "to allay fears, stop rumors, and reassure students because it happened so close to campus."
The press release was also to make clear the ownership of the apartment complex. The press release reads in part, "SBU Campus Safety & Security Director Mark Grabowski said two individuals, who are not connected with the University, were taken into custody in connection to a body found last night in the 900 block of South Pike Street in Bolivar. "The body was found near privately owned apartments on Pike Street," Grabowski said.
Maria Saavedra of KY3 News correctly reported, "police are saying that where this body was found has very little correlation to the case." She also makes no mention of the nearness of the apartment complex with SBU.
The "Springfield News Leader" has a sidebar to a story about this case about the SBU news release that states, "Smith said the proximity of the homicide to campus was disturbing, but it appears in no way connected to the University."
While what happened to Christopher Cornell is a travesty, linking the campus to that horrific incident is a mistake.
This is a tragic but isolated incident. We must remember to do as Dean of Students Rob Harris also said in the press release and "remember to pray for the families of the victim and the alleged perpetrators of this terrible crime."
All three of these reports aired on the nightly news, and the transcripts are still on each station's websites. Sharina Smith, director of Marketing and Communications, issued a press release Monday "to allay fears, stop rumors, and reassure students because it happened so close to campus."
The press release was also to make clear the ownership of the apartment complex. The press release reads in part, "SBU Campus Safety & Security Director Mark Grabowski said two individuals, who are not connected with the University, were taken into custody in connection to a body found last night in the 900 block of South Pike Street in Bolivar. "The body was found near privately owned apartments on Pike Street," Grabowski said.
Maria Saavedra of KY3 News correctly reported, "police are saying that where this body was found has very little correlation to the case." She also makes no mention of the nearness of the apartment complex with SBU.
The "Springfield News Leader" has a sidebar to a story about this case about the SBU news release that states, "Smith said the proximity of the homicide to campus was disturbing, but it appears in no way connected to the University."
While what happened to Christopher Cornell is a travesty, linking the campus to that horrific incident is a mistake.
This is a tragic but isolated incident. We must remember to do as Dean of Students Rob Harris also said in the press release and "remember to pray for the families of the victim and the alleged perpetrators of this terrible crime."
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M.H.
posted 10/26/07 @ 8:42 AM EST
This is a sad incident for all of Bolivar. Murder! But this also shows how the general Media has evolved into an entertainment and "Shock Factor" outlet. (Continued…)
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