It has been thirteen days since 20-year-old Virginia Tech student Morgan Dana Harrington vanished from the Metallica Concert being held at John Paul Jones Arena. Word of the disappearance spread swiftly across campus, and among the whisperings came speculations of how and why a college student could simply vanish. Though there is crime in Charlottesville, it is not unlike the crime in any other city or college town. Despite a $100,000 reward offered by Harrington's family and another $50,000 added by Metallica, there are still no major leads in the investigation.
Unfortunately, the disappearances like Harrington's are not rare events. Everyday, around 2,500 people are reported missing in the United States according to the National Center for Missing Adults (NCMA). The FBI's computerized criminal justice database, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), maintains a Missing Person File for all people who have been reported missing. Those who are missing remain in the NCIC Missing Person File indefinitely until they are either found or the missing person's report is canceled. As of Dec. 31 2008, the NCIC Missing Person File listed 102,764 active missing person cases. The prominence of Harrington's case in the national media in part stems from her connection to Virginia Tech and the personal "One Of Our Fans Is Missing" plea from prominent heavy metal band Metallica. Dan and Gil Harrington have also been working daily to keep their daughter's story in the spotlight in the hopes that police will come across a significant lead. Harrington's story quickly garnered national media attention by Wednesday afternoon after her disappearance and was even picked up on CNN's "Nancy Grace".
Despite this national coverage, little headway has been made in the investigation, raising fears in the University community. In reference to the Harrington case, third-year College student Alexandra Rivas expressed her concern. "It's scary to think that something like this could happen to someone our age so close to our school. I wish that there was a stronger security system on campus, for example, more cameras in parking lots. I'm really sad for her family and hope she gets found soon." The lack of information has other students feeling both frustrated and concerned. Second-year College student Jamie Dailey says, "The disappearance of Morgan is very tragic. I feel like I haven't received very many updates on the case from the University, but I don't know if that's because there's nothing new to update or because they're not being proactive with informing the University community. The case is especially disturbing because U.Va. is supposed to be this safe bubble. It certainly makes me think twice about letting friends walk alone at night." To many, the story that police have given the public simply does not add up and students have been left wondering how safe they really are.
Harrington is not alone. Young coeds and graduate students have repeatedly made national headlines as college campuses have become the breeding ground for crime and intrigue. Within the past few years, the American public has been bombarded with tragic stories of missing college students and violent campus murders. Recently, the murder of Yale graduate student Annie Le and the shooting of the University of Connecticut's star football player Jasper Howard grasped media attention. No one can forget the brutal torture of the Columbia University journalism graduate or the rape and murder of New York John Jay College student Imette St. Guillen. The list goes on. Too often, students are falling victim to crime in a place where they should be safe. This begs the question, what can be done to increase the safety of college students across the nation? To begin with, the laws regarding missing people should be changed. College students are not being protected by laws which otherwise protect children under 18. For example, AMBER Alerts are only issued for those aged 17 years or younger, and are broadcasted immediately across radio and television stations once a child is deemed missing. While the AMBER Alert Program has been highly successful in locating missing children, it does not apply to college students like Harrington, age 20. This is a problem that needs to be addressed.
It is only when crime hits so near to home does one begin to fully understand that the "bubble" in which we live is far from secure. Surrounded by thousands of other students and within walking distance of blue phones and University police, one tends to feel insulated from the external world of crime. While college may seem like a safe place, as the past two weeks convey, crime is always possible. We have all learned the basic safety rules our parents instilled in us. Unfortunately, all it takes is one second when our instincts lapse or when we are unaware of our surroundings. Though it is tempting to immerse oneself into the college "bubble," it is important to recognize that there is always a potential for crime. Always be aware of your surroundings and travel in groups and well-lit areas. Until the police discover more in regards to the disappearance of Harrington, it is essential that University students take extra precautions in ensuring their safety and the safety of their friends. The University's thoughts and prayers are with Harrington's family and friends, and with each day, the community continues to hold onto the hope that she will be returned safely to her family.
Ashley Chappo is a Viewpoint writer for The Cavalier Daily.
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