Trial of Infamy and Tears
Hello dear readers and followers. The past few weeks have been challenging. The passing of my great friend Gale took a toll and continues to be a point of much thought...as expected. The holiday season, here in the states generally considered as the week of Thanksgiving (4th Thursday of November) thru January 1st is supposed to be joyful. When there are events such as the passing of a loved one the season is one of confusion, dread and sadness.
I have a couple friends who had loved ones pass during the season and they never shared the same joy again. I have always understood and yet had been on the sideline until this year with Gale's accidental death. The positive is that in some sense I am now closer to some of my friends than a few weeks ago- even if it is temporary. I take pride in the closeness of my friendships and the years where we have remained together to help one another.
Another point of great pride is my University. Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, USA. As a two-time graduate that was educated in the late 80's and again within the last decade I have seen so much change at the school. There is much more interaction , or so it seems, between the alumni and the current students. As a result, I became involved as a mentor. My intern is a young woman who's family I have known for over a decade and who looked up to my younger daughter years ago (my daughter is older by 4 years). The fact that she is more than the typical intern I've looked out for her in a familial sense as well as a mentor.
The turn of events in the very early morning of August 31, 2017 made me panic like a father. A young female student was murdered just off campus. I sent a text to my intern and she responded within an hour. I was relieved. I was grateful that her family would not be overcome by sorrow. Still, I cried. I cried because Jenna Burleigh's family was not as fortunate. Jenna was the young woman that was murdered by Josh Hupperterz. Jenna was also enrolled in my former undergraduate college of the University. Based on photos, video and reports by friends and family Jenna was a thoroughly beautiful young woman. Someone deeply concerned for humanity.
My University failed Jenna. Temple has it's own police force and someone who lived over Hupperterz apartment called the police twice. The neighbor reported what to her were"horror movie like screams" from the apartment below. The University police came and left both times. Jenna was killed. I love my school but they failed! They failed to serve and protect Jenna. I am bluntly unapologetic.
The very real monster, Hupperterz, took Jenna's lifeless body and stuffed it into a plastic tote, the kind I use to store my holiday decorations. The monster took her out of the city to a nearby town...then got the assistance of a family member. Unbenkownst to the family member, he helped place Jenna's body into another car. Jenna was left in the cold, dark, dampness of a shed in Northeastern, PA over 100 miles away. A shed on the property at Grandmother's house. Grandma to a monster.
The trial has just started, right in the beginning of the "holiday season." The Burleigh's are now enduring the graphic details of August 30-31, 2017 as they deal with the weight of the loss of their daughter. During the trial it was revealed that Jenna reached out to two friends for help before she wound up at Hupperterz's apartment. Sadly, neither received the messages until later in the morning of August 31. Both had gone to bed. I know how close I am to my friends. I know how strongly I feel about them and protective I am - particularly my female friends. I can only imagine the emotional draft they are feeling.
Earlier this year I wrote that it is ok, actually cool to be the "cup of unusual" in the big bowl of life. Jenna, it has been reported, was of similar mind. When I was her age I wasn't so open-minded. In today's definition one might say that at 22 I was conservative and Jenna was liberal. I became more accepting over time. Some people get offended when we don't share their point of view. Only time will tell if the difference of opinion somehow lead to the tragedy of the monster killing the beauty.
Unfortunately, in a city where tragedy is a daily occurrence this will be a trial of infamy. In the Burleigh circle of family and friends there is no season of joy. There are tears, there is sadness and anger. I share all of those reactions and emotions. I am conflicted as both proud of and disappointed with my University. My intern was not yet aware of why I reached out to her concerned for her well-being that August day... until later and she called to thank me. I was lucky, her Dad and her Mom and sister were and are lucky too. We are all here for the holiday season to pause and shed a tear for Jenna.
The Answerman says "Accept the unusual in everyone. We are all key ingredients in the recipe of life. Agree to disagree. Each of us is someone's son and someone's daughter. Never, ever turn your back when someone is in trouble because somewhere there is a friend, a Mom, a Dad that will always wish they were there to protect their loved one."
Be Good, Be Safe
Answerman
I have a couple friends who had loved ones pass during the season and they never shared the same joy again. I have always understood and yet had been on the sideline until this year with Gale's accidental death. The positive is that in some sense I am now closer to some of my friends than a few weeks ago- even if it is temporary. I take pride in the closeness of my friendships and the years where we have remained together to help one another.
Another point of great pride is my University. Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, USA. As a two-time graduate that was educated in the late 80's and again within the last decade I have seen so much change at the school. There is much more interaction , or so it seems, between the alumni and the current students. As a result, I became involved as a mentor. My intern is a young woman who's family I have known for over a decade and who looked up to my younger daughter years ago (my daughter is older by 4 years). The fact that she is more than the typical intern I've looked out for her in a familial sense as well as a mentor.
The turn of events in the very early morning of August 31, 2017 made me panic like a father. A young female student was murdered just off campus. I sent a text to my intern and she responded within an hour. I was relieved. I was grateful that her family would not be overcome by sorrow. Still, I cried. I cried because Jenna Burleigh's family was not as fortunate. Jenna was the young woman that was murdered by Josh Hupperterz. Jenna was also enrolled in my former undergraduate college of the University. Based on photos, video and reports by friends and family Jenna was a thoroughly beautiful young woman. Someone deeply concerned for humanity.
My University failed Jenna. Temple has it's own police force and someone who lived over Hupperterz apartment called the police twice. The neighbor reported what to her were"horror movie like screams" from the apartment below. The University police came and left both times. Jenna was killed. I love my school but they failed! They failed to serve and protect Jenna. I am bluntly unapologetic.
The very real monster, Hupperterz, took Jenna's lifeless body and stuffed it into a plastic tote, the kind I use to store my holiday decorations. The monster took her out of the city to a nearby town...then got the assistance of a family member. Unbenkownst to the family member, he helped place Jenna's body into another car. Jenna was left in the cold, dark, dampness of a shed in Northeastern, PA over 100 miles away. A shed on the property at Grandmother's house. Grandma to a monster.
The trial has just started, right in the beginning of the "holiday season." The Burleigh's are now enduring the graphic details of August 30-31, 2017 as they deal with the weight of the loss of their daughter. During the trial it was revealed that Jenna reached out to two friends for help before she wound up at Hupperterz's apartment. Sadly, neither received the messages until later in the morning of August 31. Both had gone to bed. I know how close I am to my friends. I know how strongly I feel about them and protective I am - particularly my female friends. I can only imagine the emotional draft they are feeling.
Earlier this year I wrote that it is ok, actually cool to be the "cup of unusual" in the big bowl of life. Jenna, it has been reported, was of similar mind. When I was her age I wasn't so open-minded. In today's definition one might say that at 22 I was conservative and Jenna was liberal. I became more accepting over time. Some people get offended when we don't share their point of view. Only time will tell if the difference of opinion somehow lead to the tragedy of the monster killing the beauty.
Unfortunately, in a city where tragedy is a daily occurrence this will be a trial of infamy. In the Burleigh circle of family and friends there is no season of joy. There are tears, there is sadness and anger. I share all of those reactions and emotions. I am conflicted as both proud of and disappointed with my University. My intern was not yet aware of why I reached out to her concerned for her well-being that August day... until later and she called to thank me. I was lucky, her Dad and her Mom and sister were and are lucky too. We are all here for the holiday season to pause and shed a tear for Jenna.
The Answerman says "Accept the unusual in everyone. We are all key ingredients in the recipe of life. Agree to disagree. Each of us is someone's son and someone's daughter. Never, ever turn your back when someone is in trouble because somewhere there is a friend, a Mom, a Dad that will always wish they were there to protect their loved one."
Be Good, Be Safe
Answerman
Comments
Post a Comment