On September 13th, 2014, an 18-year old sophomore at UVA named Hannah Graham went missing while out with friends. Graham’s friends last her from her via a text she sent them at 1:20 AM that day, saying that she had gotten lost on the way to a party. She was last seen at the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, Virginia. Over the course of the next five weeks, friends and family prayed for her safe return. Her parents sent out pleas for information, and several tips came flooding in as to Hannah’s whereabouts.
On October 18th, 2014, human remains were found in the woods behind an abandoned property in Charlottesville. These remains were later confirmed as belonging to Hannah.
This story hits especially close to home because it confirms that the unspeakable can, and does, really happen. It can happen to anyone- even a smart, talented, beautiful girl from a prestigious college. When I first heard of Hannah’s disappearance, I prayed that she had simply gotten picked up by a friend and would return home safely within the coming days. As the weeks stretched on and the search turned into a death investigation, my heart sunk. Why would anyone do something so cruel? What had Hannah done wrong?
The fact is, she hadn’t done anything wrong. No one deserves to meet the fate she did. As horrible as this story is, I don’t mean to scare you. However, I think it’s crucial that we all take a lesson from this tragedy.
Every Friday and Saturday night, millions of college students flood out into city streets and local nightlife scenes. Thousands of these students get lost or placed in dangerous situations. Hannah’s story should be a reminder to always remain vigilant and surrounded by people you can trust. As many Notre Dame students can attest, the South Bend area can sometimes be unsafe – especially at night. Countless times I have witnessed people stumbling around empty neighborhood streets alone in the middle of the night. With the recent incidents reported on and off campus, it is especially important, now more than ever, to remain aware of your surroundings. These are a few of the things you should keep in mind:
Never walk alone at night.
Safewalk exists for a reason – robberies can and do happen. Just last week, a robbery occurred directly on campus. Whenever you are walking at night, please bring a buddy or call O’SNAP.
Have a backup plan.
If you are going off campus with friends, plan a meeting place for if you get split up. Utilize the buddy system. This may seem unnecessary, but if you ever get lost you can be sure someone will be looking for you.
Save phone numbers.
My roommates and I posted our phone numbers on our dorm room wall. If we ever get lost or lose our phones, we have each others’ numbers memorized and can call in emergencies. Memorize your friends’ numbers as well as NDSP.
Report suspicious behavior.
A witness reported a man following Hannah on the night she disappeared- this is important information that may lead to the discovery of what happened. If you see anyone acting suspicious, immediately remove yourself from the situation and report it to the authorities.
Take a cab – don’t walk – to unknown areas.
This is especially crucial if you are with a small group. Getting lost in South Bend in the middle of the night is NOT fun, and very dangerous. Always know the addresses of where you are going, and trust that your cab driver will get you there safely.
Hannah’s death was an unspeakable tragedy, but we shouldn’t just forget about it and move on with our lives. You are not invincible on a Saturday night, no matter how many times you may tell yourself that. Please be careful. Always keep a look out for your friends and choose the safest route. As a college community, it is our job to reach out to Hannah’s friends and family to show our support in such tragic times. It is also our duty to learn from this going forward.
Stay safe ND,
HCNDxo