Editor:
No act of violence is random. When a man causes "four fractures and two facial lacerations that required seven stitches" in a single blow, clear passion is behind that hit. I visited the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity the night of Jan. 12 and witnessed a much different occurrence than what was reported by Katie Baker and The Daily Utah Chronicle. Unlike Baker, I did not have a single drop of alcohol that night, and am more equipped to accurately retell the events that occurred.
Moments after entering the frat, I met a clearly intoxicated, far past "slightly tipsy" girl with an open beer in her hand-the same girl that is claiming "she did not accept any of the alcohol being offered." Without even saying hello, she frantically asked me if I had seen a silver cell phone. After telling her that I, regretfully, had not seen it, I hung out in the basement for about 20 minutes before heading back upstairs. A large group of guys were heading out the front door, leaving the main floor empty, so I continued up to the top floor.
At the top of the stairs, in the bathroom, I recognized that same girl hunched over the toilet with five or six guys trying to help her. She had an obvious facial injury with some blood on her chest and a few droplets on her jeans. Far from the claim that "the whole front of (her) shirt, (her) jeans and both (her) arms down to (her) elbow, (were) covered in blood."
When asked what happened, Baker stated, "some n***** football player punched me." I got her some ice from the freezer and informed some active members of the frat what had happened. While they cleared out anyone who had seen nothing and were uninvolved, I went back upstairs to attend to Katie. She continued to drop the "n" word until I asked her specifically to stop. I am completely appalled by her statement that, "I just find it disgusting that out of the whole party only one person was willing to help" because after people were made aware, everyone wanted to help and immediate action was taken.
Along with the man who Baker refers to as "(her) god," several others helped in any way they could. The "20-plus people that (saw) this happen" were the offender's friends who had left, and the individuals who stayed out of the bathroom, in the hall, were avoiding becoming an impediment. People were cleaning up the blood splatter on the door and some that was being stepped in on the floor. We were continually telling people to leave the bathroom because so many wanted to help.
Once it became apparent that a hospital visit was necessary, Baker agreed to ride in my car. I then pulled my car around to the side door. Inside, however, Baker had changed her mind and was demanding an ambulance. As a nursing assistant at a local hospital, I could tell that an ambulance wasn't necessary, but Baker would not back down. She reported to The Chrony "that there was no way to tell who was sober enough to drive," but Baker was the only drunk individual in the bathroom. I never would have offered if I had been drinking.
In no way do I want to condone violence of any sort. I am shocked by this type of behavior and appalled that Katie Baker was hit for any reason, but her claiming that no one was willing to help her is completely unfair to the many people that did. I am not personally a member of a greek organization, but I was impressed by the way that the actives handled the situation. Their main concern was clearly Baker's well-being and not the negative consequences that potentially could have occurred. The fact that Baker is defending what she remembers by stating, "I trust my memory of that night," shows that there is a reason why someone wouldn't trust it.
Carrie Williams, Undecided, Sophomore
