OCTOBER 17, 2019
UIARGONAUT.COM
SAFETY
Suspicious white van spotted on campus Some students are concerned about reports of a white van following people on campus Ellen Dennis and Haadiya Tariq
ARGONAUT
For the past week, reports and rumors have circulated of a white van following campus pedestrians at night. Posts on Facebook as well as Wildfire, a communication platform popular on college campuses, have raised safety concerns among campus community members. Four students filed police reports claiming they had been stalked by the van, said Moscow Police Department Officer Megan Vincello.
Vincello said two of the four reports referenced street locations where the van was sighted. One location was near Elm & Rayburn Streets. The other was on Deakin Avenue near the Bruce Pitman Center. The other two reports came from unspecified campus locations. Additional alleged sightings were reported online via Facebook and Wildfire posts. Campus Security Manager, Bruce Lovell, said after evaluating security footage, he identified the driver as a campus worker in a campus van. “A lot of people work at night — depending on the time of year — but custodial staff works at night,” Lovell
said. “Depending on what’s happening with facilities, facilities could be working at night.” Campus security said reports were filed because students happened to be walking in the same direction as campus vans. “Just the perfect set of circumstances had to happen in order for people to be walking across campus at the exact same time that a van was driving from one place to another and it just happened to be the same place,” Lovell said. “It’s really unusual.” Lovell said even though the van turned out to be a campus vehicle, he understands why students filed reports and urges the campus community to do so if they are ever concerned about their safety.
“I’m glad they called in, because if at night you feel like you’re being followed and you run to a place and that vehicle is behind you, it’s good — when in doubt — to report,” Lovell said. UI Campus Security is available at all hours to receive reports. Students, employees and visitors may also use the university’s free, 24-hour Safe Walk service to be escorted to their destinations by a security officer, no questions asked. To utilize the service, students can call 208-885-7054. SEE WHITE VAN, PAGE 5
100 Years The marching band gets ready to celebrate 100 years throughout this weekend during Homecoming celebrations Elizabeth Carbajal
ARGONAUT
The Sound of Idaho has encompassed everything fans have learned to love from the band since its inception — music, tradition and joy. Homecoming is the one time of year when alumni band members get to come back and play as if they never left. “We’ll have a 1,000-piece mass band,” Idaho Band Director Spencer Martin said. “We’ll have the biggest alumni band we’ve ever had because of the 100-year anniversary... It will be an absolute massive humanity.” The work process leading up to th performance is chaotic but also exciting, Martin said. “I have some phenomenal help, Nikki Crathorne our assistant director and Cherice Cameron, without them none of this would happen,” Martin said. “And phenomenal work ethic from the students, who lead and teach so much on their own.” Performing under the bright lights of the Kibbie Dome for Vandal fans and students was not always the case for the Sound of Idaho. What started out at as a military band with little numbers has come to be one of the most iconic legacies of the University of Idaho. Success hasn’t always greeted the band, with the group of musicians facing much turmoil over the last 100 years. “There were times when people didn’t support the marching band,” percussion player Emily Allis said. “When we almost didn’t make it.” Despite the troubles, the band has not disappeared. Instead the Sound of Idaho pushed through the hardships and found ways to continue to thrive. SEE CELEBRATING, PAGE 9
IN THIS ISSUE
Prichard exhibit captures the life of loggers. LIFE, 6 News, 1
Life, 6
Sports, 9
Opinion, 12
The UI Marching Band celebrates its 100th year during Homecoming. SPORTS, 9
Poor planning during double homecoming weekend. Read our view. OPINION, 12
University of Idaho
Volume 121, Issue no. 41
Recyclable