In the wake of the terrifying and unnerving events of this last Monday night involving Professor Fred Sontag and Jared Essig, we must be extremely careful as we, the student body and faculty, commit the episode to memory. Those who know all the facts of the matter are few, including the various newspapers writing stories on the issue, and it would be terribly wrong to vilify Jared as conscious and malicious in his actions toward Professor Sontag. We must not forget that throughout the day on Monday, Jared was extremely unstable mentally, provoking the police to prohibit anyone from visiting him for fear of physical danger until 7 pm. Although professionally assessed as safe and calm enough to be released into the custody of Dean Quinley and Professor Sontag later that night, it was very clear to everyone involved that Jared was not at all himself. The sudden violence that erupted out of Jared a short time later, resulting in the life threatening injury to Professor Sontag, was totally unexpected and should not in any way be looked upon as the actions of a sane individual. I know Jared and Professor Sontag have been close for four years and Jared has told me many times of his high regards for the man and the great help Sontag has been for him. It is both extremely shocking and sad that Jared would attack a man whom he cares for and respects so deeply.

There is no moral logic to be made of the situation: it is nothing less than a double tragedy. Not only did we nearly lose one of the most dedicated and compassionate professors in Fred Sontag, a man who upon receiving a call from two desperate students Monday afternoon calmly dropped everything he was doing to dedicate every bit of influence, knowledge and compassion he had toward helping Jared out of his troubles, but we saw a wonderfully dynamic member of our student body lose a hold of reality and thereby commit a horrible act of violence. To foresee that Jared, in the car of one of his closest professors, after being assessed by professionals as safe, would lash out like he did could not have been asked.

It tears me up to think that my cheering, scheming roommate whose smiling face adorns my walls and memories has committed an act so devastating, to both Fred Sontag and himself. That the wounds to Professor Sontag were not worse and that he is such a hearty individual we should all rejoice. However, our deepest sympathies should also go out to Jared and his family as he, in the weeks and months ahead, starts down the road to recovery and comes to terms with his destructive actions. The college, at least for the time being, has lost a wonderful member of its community and I, one of my favorite people in the world; thank God we didn't lose a second. Please, let us not look at Jared as a villain. I hope that when we commit it to memory as one of the most harrowing events in the College's history, we can do so with the utmost sensitivity to the tragic circumstances involving Professor Sontag as well as Jared Essig.

Sincerely,

J.B. Waterman