Ned Morrison story - last chapter - Saturday July 9, 2022

 SATURDAY STORY - JULY 9, NED MORRISON - CONCLUDED

*****

Ned Morrison sat with Brian Schulz at Rosie’s Cafe on <address>.  Ned had just taken Brian on as a mentee.  Brian had been in the Gunderson Hospital mental ward for four days and was ready to restart his life.  

Ned asked, “Okay, Brian, I want to get ahold of your Dad, how do I do it?”

Brian gave Ned a phone number and an address.  He added, “I’m really not sure about the address. But, this is what I have.”  

Ned laid out a plan.  Tonight, I’m going to contact your professors and tell them your story and ask for the ability to make things up (I think all of them will be understanding).  I want you to schedule an appointment with Jason Bonick in the counseling center on campus.  I want you to contact Coach Palokonis on your own regarding your status on the lacrosse team.  I’m not sure how it works with an athletic partial scholarship if you can be given an extra semester as a “red shirt”.  If you had, say, broken your leg, they would give you some time off.  Your depression issues should be counted as a disability.  Let me know what he says.”

Ned continued, “How are your finances?”  

Brian answered, “I really don’t know.  I don’t know if Mom had any money or if she had a will.  I don’t know if Dad will cough up some money and support.  My tuition, room, and board are paid up through the end of the semester.  I’ve lost maybe two weeks and if I work hard, I can bring it back and if my professors can give me some help academically, the stress will be gone for this semester.  I don’t know how the spring semester will work.  I suppose I can take out loans if I need to.  My Sigma Tau Gamma dues are paid through the end of the semester too.  And I have some social funds for dates and the like.”

They finished up their drinks and meal and Ned took Brian back to campus.

*****

Ned emailed Coach Jay Palokonis, “Hi Jay.  I’m Brian Schultz’s mentor now.  As you know he was on the verge of committing suicide last Saturday evening.  Between his mother’s death, and his father is a bit of a jerk, he was pretty despondent. I’ve asked him to meet with you - but I don’t want him to know I wrote to you.  I want him to take responsibility.  I have no idea how this works with his athletic scholarship.  I was hoping it could be a little like a ‘red shirt’ year comparable with breaking a leg, but mental depression and suicide are different.  

“So, don’t tell him that I wrote to you, help him grow up and become responsible, but do let me know how it works out.”

Ned got a reply from Coach Palokonis in about ten minutes.’’Thanks, Ned.  I know you’ll be a great mentor for Brian.  I know that you have been a great supporter of athletics.  I’ll ask Ted McCartney about the scholarship issue, and I’ll let you know how it comes out.  I would like to have him at least practice with us.  I think the support of the team will help him come around.”

Ned replied, “Thanks, Jay.  Yes, make him go through the drills.  I think his head and his heart are in the right place.

*****

The campus police had gotten the videos from the student union laundry room for the day that Brian Schulz probably forgot his black Sigma Tau Gamma sweatshirt.  Tina Perez, who was the officer on the night of the first attempted rape watched the video.  Mark Ludvicko ran the video control unit.

“Stop,” Tina Perez said.  She pointed to Brian leaving the laundry room and his black sweatshirt was still in the dryer.  “Ahead slowly,” she directed Mark.

It was about an hour later on the video feed when a male student loaded his clothes into the same dryer.  He pulled out the sweatshirt and looked around.  There were two girls in the room but they were just starting the washing machines.  He loaded his clothes into the dryer and in 35 minutes when his clothes were dry, he took the whole load, including the black sweatshirt with him.  

Officer Perez said, “We don’t know for sure that is the rapist, but he did take the sweatshirt and does seem to be about the right size.  But, his jeans don’t have a rip on the right leg.”

They accessed the student ID cards that were used and Craig Thomas was the student who used the dryer.  

“What do we know about Craig Thomas?” She asked Mark Ludvicko.  

Mark pulled up the student database and got a better picture.  “We don’t know too much about Craig Thomas.  He is from Tomah, Wisconsin, and a sophomore majoring in political science.  No arrests or other information that might be relevant.  His GPA is 2.83 - not a top student but getting on.  Lives in an off-campus apartment, at 425 N. Losey Boulevard.

Tina Perez said, “Not enough to really determine if that is the rapist. But, it is a lead”.

*****

The campus police department had contacted Howie’s Bar about seeing their videos.  A day later, Tina and Mark were at Howie’s watching the video from the Saturday night of the rape.  The lighting wasn’t ideal, but at about 9:30 according to the video feed, they could see a solitary male figure sitting at a back table.  He had black jeans, black shoes, and a black shirt, but it wasn’t the Sigma Tau Gamma black sweatshirt.  Tina asked the video operator to focus on the jeans.  Although it was blurry, they could see a cut or a rip in the black jeans.  They focused on the male and compared it to their picture of Craig Thomas.

“Okay”, Tina said.  “It still isn’t enough.  There probably are other black jeans around here.  So, we know that Craig Thomas took the sweatshirt - but he could have given it to a thrift shop or given it to a friend that wanted a fraternity sweatshirt.  And, we know that he drinks beer (but rather slowly) at Howie’s.  And, that student, Max, thought the man at the back of the bar was acting strange, but, hey, I act strange sometimes.”

Tina continued, “But, I think the probabilities are good that he might be our rapist.”

*****

Craig Thomas had an urge, a desire to get another thrill.  He knew he needed to vary his activities some.  The black Sigma Tau Gamma sweatshirt had been seen.  He didn’t want anything that stuck out again.  He had a navy blue sweatshirt - that was dark enough he thought.  If he was hiding in a doorway or in bushes, he didn’t want to be obvious like wearing a bright red or orange sweatshirt.  The evenings were getting a little cooler so it might be better to have his thrill earlier, maybe like 8:00 p.m. 

He wanted to avoid Howie’s at least tonight.  Maybe around Super Street Tacos on State Street near 19th Street.  Maybe he could get a coed who wanted a taco on the way home from the library.  He slipped out of his apartment and went through the alley between Main Street and State Street, where he put on his black ski mask and gloves.  He was sure nobody saw him.  

He hid in the shadow of Gallery 1802 and waited.  He just knew it was going to work tonight.  An hour went by and there were no single girls alone.  There were pairs or threes or even a single girl with two people behind her.  It was getting cold - but soon.  He could feel it in his groin.

About 9:00 a girl came out of the Roncalli Newman Center and down the alley towards Main Street.  He looked around, nobody, no cars, no other people, just the girl and him.  She walked by him, not seeing him, he got behind her and rushed up, threw her to the ground, put his gloved hand over her mouth, shoved his knife next to her throat, and told her he would kill her if she made any noise.  With his other hand, he fumbled her jeans and panties down and quickly raped her.  She was panting and scared.  But, he released her and ran down the alley towards Genoa Healthcare as she had trouble standing and pulling up her jeans.  He ducked behind some trash cans.  

The girl retrieved her phone and called 911.  “I’ve been raped.”  She disclosed her location between Super Street Tacos and the Newman Center.  A cruiser was in the area and the EMT truck also rolled out.  The police got there first.  The girl was sobbing incoherently.  The EMTs arrived two minutes later and they wrapped a blanket around the girl and took her to Gunderson Hospital, and the squad car went as well.  

She was questioned.  

“Did he have Greek letters on his sweatshirt?” “No”, 

“Did he have a tear in his jeans by the knee?”  “I don’t know”, 

“Did he have black pants and black shoes?” “I think so”.

“What did he say?”  “Shut up or I’ll kill you”.

“What kind of weapon did he have?” “A knife”

“What kind of knife?”, “I don’t know.  It was sharp and it poked it into my neck”.

There were other questions, but she really didn’t know much.  It was a person taller than she was with a black ski mask, black clothes, black gloves, and a knife, and he had raped her.

The female EMT tonight was a counselor on a mental health call-in line and did a great job of calming down the girl.  

*****

Craig Thomas took off his ski mask and gloves and put them behind a trash can at Genoa Healthcare.  He went into the Newman Center and knelt in prayer.  He knew nobody would look for him here.  There were a few others in prayer.  He spent 45 minutes there.  He figured the neighborhood would be crawling with police and it was better to just be there.  He stopped in the restroom and took off his navy blue sweatshirt.  He had a long sleeve Green Bay Packer shirt underneath.  He took off the Packer shirt, put on the navy blue sweatshirt, and then put the Pack shirt on top.  

He went out of the front door of the Newman Center and onto the campus, passed the football stadium, and to LaCrosse Street and over to Losey Boulevard and back to his apartment.  With every block, he felt better.  He had raped another student and gotten away.  He was the champion.

He didn’t notice the figure in black clothes across the street from his apartment.  When the call came in, the police put a watch on his apartment.  The observer texted him that he returned home.

No confirmation.  He was a student and may have been at the library - just walking home.  Or he was the rapist and hid out for a while before returning home.

*****

Brian went to all of his classes on Thursday.  After class, he talked with each of his professors about his situation.  All except one said, “no problem, you can make up the work”.  The one that didn’t say ‘no problem’, said, “I’ll work out an alternative testing scenario for you since I’ve handed back the midterm tests (and you flunked it).  

He called coach Palokonis and made an appointment to meet him before practice.  He said he was so sorry about his lack of concentration and asked to be part of the team.  

At the lacrosse practice, the coach talked with the players and said “You know Brian has had some struggles.  His mother died of cancer two weeks ago, and there are some other things.  I’m glad to welcome him back to the team.  Please give him your respect and love as we move past those issues.”

At practice, Brian hustled and worked really hard.  In the scrimmage, he was on the second team but he made six shots as he seemed to dance away from defenders and get the shot off.  

Max Winthrop came up after practice and put his hand out to Brian to shake. 

Max said, “It’s great to have you back, Brian”.

They hugged and walked into the locker room together.  

*****

Thursday night was Sigma Tau Gamma's meeting night.  Brian was back with the group.  At the end of the meeting, the brothers who had something to share passed a microphone around the room.  

Brian took the microphone and stood up.  “Guys, I’m sorry, I’ve been a jerk.  Many of you know my Mom died of cancer two weeks ago.  My Dad divorced her and hasn’t been around to help or support me.  Last Saturday night, I just had it.  Life wasn’t worth living.”

He paused to wipe some tears from his eyes.  “But something happened on that bridge.  I was ready to jump a dark night, the Mississippi River flowing under me, but I just couldn’t do it.  I’m going to say it was “God”.  I haven’t been very religious, but something happened that stopped me.  The police and EMTs took me to the mental ward at the hospital.  Monday night, Professor Morrison came to visit me.  I’m not without value.  Guys, forgive me.  If you see me acting strangely, talk to me, or call Professor Morrison.  You are the greatest friends I have.”

The guys sitting near Brian stood up and gave him a hug, soon the entire room was standing and yelling “Brian Brian”.  Some were crying, and Brian was really sobbing - but happy tears at having friends and being alive.

The meeting ended and Frank Hayes, the President, took Brian to Howie’s for a beer, and lots of the guys came with them.  And, amazing enough, Brian nursed that one beer for a couple of hours.  “

*****

Ned had had a full day but wanted to have dinner with Mavis Larson.  And, he wanted to be on campus (or near campus), so he suggested going to Howie’s for chicken tenders.  They were about ready to leave when the Sigma Tau Gamma brothers came in - and Brian Schulz came over to say “Thanks”.  As their faculty advisor, Ned was available for advice and chaperoning 

Events.  And, he could have had free beer all night but opted to leave.

At Mavis’ house on Blackhawk Place, she said, “Why don’t you come in for a while Ned?”

It was all the invitation he needed.  She made chamomile tea and they sat next to each other on the sofa.  A hug led to another deeper hug and kissing.  It was a special time to be next to each other after being alone for so long.

******

Craig Thomas was pretty happy with himself - rape #2 was done, and he was the KING.  

**********

On Friday morning after Econ 101 class, Amanda Zilinski and Lori Rohn gathered around the podium after class to ask Ned Morrison about their term paper on the Economic Benefits of Mental Health Facilities in a Community.  They had sent the link to a questionnaire to 12 Mental Health facilities in the area and had gotten five returns.  The data was looking good.  Ned was impressed with their research.

He commented, “I’m thinking the campus rapist could benefit from mental health counseling, Brian Schulz seems to be a new man after his stay in the mental health ward at Gunderson Hospital.  In the national news, we’ve had mass shootings and in all cases, the perpetrator would have benefitted from good mental health counseling or even continuing care for mental health.

*****

Saturday, the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse lacrosse team beat UW Whitewater 32 to 17.  Brian Schulz had eight points, Max Winthrop had seven points and Jaxon Rice had seven points. 

Max was relaxing with a beer at Howie’s when he saw a student dressed in a navy blue sweatshirt and black pants with a tear at the knee and black shoes come in and take a table in the back and order a beer.  

He texted the campus police department.  “I think the person I thought might be the rapist came into Howie’s.  I thought I’d let you know”.  

He got a response, “Thank you.  We’ll have an observer outside Howie’s.  Can you stay there until he leaves and then text us again?”

It was about 8:00 - he said “Sure.”

*****

By 9:10, the student got up and left the bar.  Max texted the police department that the suspect had left.

*****

By 9:30, Craig Thomas was at Five Star Eggrolls - about a block north of Howie’s.  He had his black ski mask on and his black gloves.  

A girl came down the sidewalk weaving and swaying like she was drunk.  She stopped behind a hedge and pulled down her jeans and squatted to urinate.  Craig was getting excited.  He was thinking “I’ve got a live one - drunk and not caring who knows it.”

He came up behind her and grabbed her and threw her down as she was peeing.  He was “thinking this is going to be easy”.  He put his knife next to her and said, “Don’t move, don’t scream, don’t say anything.”  

But, this was different, the girl did a martial arts grab and throw and Craig was on the ground, and Lori Rohn was on top of him.  She kicked his knife away and gave him a knee in the groin.  

She yelled “I’ve got him, '' and immediately they were surrounded by six policemen in black outfits.  One had a camera and got a video of the action.  Lori had a wire on and they had recorded all the audio.

The lead officer was Tina Perez who put handcuffs on Craig and read him his Miranda rights and led him away to be taken to the police station.

*****

EPILOG

Craig Thomas was booked and later found guilty of rape and attempted rape.  He was sent to the state mental facility in Blue Mound.

Brian Schulz finished the semester strong and ended up with three A’s, and two B grades.  Ned and the campus IT staff had found Brian’s father and had convinced him to pay for Brian’s college expenses.  Peter Schulz came to visit his son for Thanksgiving and make a special effort to thank Ned Morrison for his mentorship - and for waking himself up to the problems surrounding his son.

Ned Morrison proposed to Mavis Larson

Lori Rohn and Amanda Zilinski wrote a great paper.  Ned had them submit it to the North Central Economics Conference where it won a prize for the best student paper.  Ned then worked with the girls and added some significant additional work, and the updated paper was published in the Journal of Economic Impact.

Next week - a new story!!!

LOVE WINS!!

Karen

July 9, 2022