http://www.telegram.com/article/20080928/NEWS/809280414/1116
WORCESTER— It could have been a Worcester State, Holy Cross, Clark or WPI student who was killed at an off-campus party last weekend.
Instead, it was a Becker College freshman who lost his life when he was stabbed through the heart after a group of uninvited men stormed a party inside a three-decker at 59 North Ashland St. at 2 a.m. Sept. 21. Another student received a non-life-threatening slash to the arm.
Andre J. Thompson, 19, of 56 Edgeworth St., Apt. 23, Worcester, was arrested Friday on assault charges in connection with a fight that led to the fatal stabbing. Police said he was being held on $75,000 cash bail and is scheduled for arraignment tomorrow in Worcester Central District Court.
Police have publicly revealed little about the investigation into the killing, but described the setting near where it occurred. It was a scene that is common to local and campus police departments: Dozens of students, some of them underage, were gathered at a party where alcohol was readily available.
“It could have been any one of our colleges,” Worcester State College Police Chief Rosemary F. Naughton said. “These seemingly random acts of violence are very, very difficult, even for city police.”
In light of the off-campus slaying of 19-year-old William L. Smith, college and campus police officials recently reviewed the steps they take to protect students on and off campus. Police said the suspected stabber and his entourage were not students.
Education about decision-making and alcohol awareness is a component of orientation classes, and campus police seek to deter crime by working with local police and having high visibility around campus. All along, campus police chiefs say, colleges have been maintaining ongoing dialogue with Worcester police about what trouble their students may be getting into off school grounds. Meanwhile, college officials and students have been brainstorming ways to strengthen public awareness about potential social dangers.
But could anything have been done to prevent Mr. Smith’s death? College police don’t have jurisdiction off campus, and Worcester police, as was the case last Sunday, often find themselves reacting to the crime and rushing to the scene where it took place.
“It’s almost impossible,” Chief Naughton said. “How do you prevent something like that? All we can do is try to educate, about personal awareness and safety awareness. Often, it’s about alcohol and drug use. Alcohol skews your common sense and people think they can take on the world. You may get into a confrontation and do something you normally wouldn’t do.”
Becker College Police Chief David J. Bousquet said he didn’t know who was or wasn’t drinking at the party on North Ashland Street, which was hosted by several Becker students.
He can say with certainty, however, that alcohol didn’t help matters.
“We know on college campuses that alcohol and drugs are prevalent, no matter where you go,” Chief Bousquet said. “These kids have parties on weekends, alcohol’s out there, certain alliances are made … You get an outsider there who’s not wanted, and things can escalate. When something happens real fast, you respond and it’s basically damage control.”
Becker College senior Samantha Surner, as student body president, has been working with her peers and college officials to bolster the college’s safety education efforts to include more mass e-mailings with safety tips, and lectures featuring upperclassmen speaking to freshmen and sophomores about how they have successfully handled social problems.
......
Long article, but I have been working with my class ( about 15 adult studens) to make people aware and educate them.
I talked a little about this incident but I also mentioned that they dont have to be at a party to be attacked. Becker College is in a very bad area and my class attends strictly at night as do many other students.
During class I gave people handouts that contained info about obtaining pepper spay, not only for walking to their cars but most of them live in Worcester or the surrounding area.
I feel that it is better to be prepared to protect yourself rather than be in trouble down the road.
WORCESTER— It could have been a Worcester State, Holy Cross, Clark or WPI student who was killed at an off-campus party last weekend.
Instead, it was a Becker College freshman who lost his life when he was stabbed through the heart after a group of uninvited men stormed a party inside a three-decker at 59 North Ashland St. at 2 a.m. Sept. 21. Another student received a non-life-threatening slash to the arm.
Andre J. Thompson, 19, of 56 Edgeworth St., Apt. 23, Worcester, was arrested Friday on assault charges in connection with a fight that led to the fatal stabbing. Police said he was being held on $75,000 cash bail and is scheduled for arraignment tomorrow in Worcester Central District Court.
Police have publicly revealed little about the investigation into the killing, but described the setting near where it occurred. It was a scene that is common to local and campus police departments: Dozens of students, some of them underage, were gathered at a party where alcohol was readily available.
“It could have been any one of our colleges,” Worcester State College Police Chief Rosemary F. Naughton said. “These seemingly random acts of violence are very, very difficult, even for city police.”
In light of the off-campus slaying of 19-year-old William L. Smith, college and campus police officials recently reviewed the steps they take to protect students on and off campus. Police said the suspected stabber and his entourage were not students.
Education about decision-making and alcohol awareness is a component of orientation classes, and campus police seek to deter crime by working with local police and having high visibility around campus. All along, campus police chiefs say, colleges have been maintaining ongoing dialogue with Worcester police about what trouble their students may be getting into off school grounds. Meanwhile, college officials and students have been brainstorming ways to strengthen public awareness about potential social dangers.
But could anything have been done to prevent Mr. Smith’s death? College police don’t have jurisdiction off campus, and Worcester police, as was the case last Sunday, often find themselves reacting to the crime and rushing to the scene where it took place.
“It’s almost impossible,” Chief Naughton said. “How do you prevent something like that? All we can do is try to educate, about personal awareness and safety awareness. Often, it’s about alcohol and drug use. Alcohol skews your common sense and people think they can take on the world. You may get into a confrontation and do something you normally wouldn’t do.”
Becker College Police Chief David J. Bousquet said he didn’t know who was or wasn’t drinking at the party on North Ashland Street, which was hosted by several Becker students.
He can say with certainty, however, that alcohol didn’t help matters.
“We know on college campuses that alcohol and drugs are prevalent, no matter where you go,” Chief Bousquet said. “These kids have parties on weekends, alcohol’s out there, certain alliances are made … You get an outsider there who’s not wanted, and things can escalate. When something happens real fast, you respond and it’s basically damage control.”
Becker College senior Samantha Surner, as student body president, has been working with her peers and college officials to bolster the college’s safety education efforts to include more mass e-mailings with safety tips, and lectures featuring upperclassmen speaking to freshmen and sophomores about how they have successfully handled social problems.
......
Long article, but I have been working with my class ( about 15 adult studens) to make people aware and educate them.
I talked a little about this incident but I also mentioned that they dont have to be at a party to be attacked. Becker College is in a very bad area and my class attends strictly at night as do many other students.
During class I gave people handouts that contained info about obtaining pepper spay, not only for walking to their cars but most of them live in Worcester or the surrounding area.
I feel that it is better to be prepared to protect yourself rather than be in trouble down the road.
![[grin]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/041.gif "Grin [grin]")
