I

 

flugust 2003

Student Stabbed Outside
of New West Campus

 

Sara James
News Editor

Twenty-one-year-old student, Crystal Neumann, was stabbed outside of the
New Westminster Campus on July 15, at approximately 9:00 pm, during an
attempted robbery. The Tuesday evening assault occurred near the Douglas
Students’ Union on Seventh Street.

Neumann, also an employee of the College, was sitting on a small patch of
grass when a man approached her from behind. He said a woman was hurt
and needed help. She went with the man to a nearby alcove, intending to pro-
vide assistance to the “injured woman.”

The man pushed her head against the wall and demanded money. When
she said she didn’t have any the assailant called her a liar, attacked her, and
then fled southbound on foot.

Thinking she'd been punched, she looked down and saw a knife protruding
from her lower left abdomen above her hip. Neumann left the alcove scream-
ing for help. A man walking a dog, at first seemingly reluctant, eventually
went for help after she collapsed on the grass.

Within minutes the police, fire crew, and an ambulance arrived. Neumann
was taken to Royal Columbian Hospital where she spent the night.

No vital organs were damaged; the six-and-a-half-inch knife narrowly
missed all in the vicinity. Ten days after the attack, the wound, still open to
reduce risk of bacterial infection, is still bleeding.

“T was laid up for a week. I can’t swim, take a bath, or participate in any vig-
orous activities,” she told the Other Press, “I was told it would take a couple
of weeks to heal.”

Neumann is angry at what she feels was a lack of concern by the College's
security staff the night of the attack. She said at no time did Security come
out to see what had happened—not even when the police, fire crew, and
ambulance were attending to her.

When she later spoke with a member of Security, she said she was told, “the
New West Police told them not to come out.”

Pat Thomasson of Douglas Security said the police went into the college
and told Security not to get involved because it was a police incident.

Neumann, said she wouldn't come back to the College if she hadn’t waited
two years to get into the Nursing program. She chose Douglas College
because, “it’s a community school.”

Her feelings are increased because of another incident that occurred at the
College within the past two months. A male was spotted pointing a knife at
students near the construction trailer outside the DSU, just off of Royal
Avenue and Seventh Steet.

Thomasson confirmed reports of the incident. She said that someone called
Security and when they arrived to investigate the NWPD were already at the
scene. The suspect was not caught. Thomasson said Security tried to get stu-
dents to come forward with information regarding the incident, without luck.
The knife is believed to have been a pocketknife, and the description of the
suspect is different than that of the suspect involved in the stabbing.

Asked if Security would consider video cameras outside, Thomasson indi-
cated the possibility would be looked at.

The suspect involved in the stabbing is described as a non-caucasian male,
five-foot-six to five-foot-eight, 30's, wearing a dark shirt and green hat, and
having a strong odour of liquor. The New West police ask that anyone with
any information to contact them immediately.

Staff Seargeant Casey deHaas issued a reminder to never go with a stranger,
even if they're seeking help. Offer to get Security or to call 911.

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Change to
Douglas College
Smoking Policy

 

In consideration of others,
smoking is only
permitted outside in the
following locations:

New Westminster Campus
Level O 0600 (away from Systems)
Level I! West Concourse (Cafeteria)
Level 1V 10 metres from Theatre Foyer entrance

David Lam Campus
South East Ramp

In accordance with
Workers Compensation Board and
Douglas College Standards of Conduct,
A 10.02.01/02,
Douglas College Restricted Smoking Policy
A 05.05.01 (under revision).

A message from Facilities Services.

I AN Douglas College

 

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