Student concerns remain despite arrest

As news spread on campus about the arrest of a suspect in the Linda Trinh murder case, many students expressed hesitant relief that the investigation may be nearing a close.

"I don't necessarily feel safer," said freshman Sophie Korn, a member of Trinh's sorority, Alpha Phi, "because from what we've been told, she had been targeted. But I am glad that someone was arrested - it gives some sort of relief. I'm a new member of Alpha Phi, and Linda was our president, so this has weighed heavily on me, and on my freshman year."

Freshman Jillian Sapperstein, another new member of Alpha Phi, felt the arrest gave "some sense of closure" for Trinh's friends.

"It was such a terrible event. I guess this makes it a little easier to deal with," said Sapperstein. "I don't think I feel a sense of relief, but I do feel some extra sense of security. I feel safer knowing the suspect is in custody, and not wandering the streets."

In an e-mail to the Hopkins community Wednesday afternoon, President William Brody informed students about the arrest and lauded the Baltimore City police department for its commitment to the investigation.

"We have been confident throughout that the Baltimore police department was aggressively pursuing the case," said Brody. "We know that the officers of this department, from the front-line investigators up through the chiefs and all the way up to Commissioner Leonard Hamm, have devoted many, many hours to this effort."

Students who tuned in to the 5 p.m. TV news saw coverage of an afternoon press conference, in which Baltimore City Police Major Richard Fahlteich announced the details of the case.

According to Fahlteich, Trinh and other members of her sorority knew the suspect, identified as Donta Allen.

"The fact that she knew him is kind of disturbing," said junior Vijay Sudan. "I think I would have felt a little more comfortable if it was a more disconnected, random act."

Sudan said that although he felt relieved that an arrest had been made, he didn't feel more secure.

"I don't think it's really a question of safety," Sudan said. "It's not like I feel safer now that they've caught one guy."

Senior Rose Baker, who has known Trinh since they met during freshman year, expressed similar sentiments.

"I don't think it's necessarily a matter of safety - it's more of a matter of peace of mind," Baker said.

According to Baker, she and other friends knew since the investigation began that the killer was probably someone Trinh knew.

"The fact that it was wasn't really that much of a surprise," she said. "I don't think it really makes that much of a difference. He wasn't a member of the Hopkins community - he was just a friend of hers. Anybody is capable of doing something like this. Just because we're Hopkins students doesn't mean we're any better than the rest of the population. It's not surprising that a Hopkins student could know someone who could do something like this."

At the press conference, Brody expressed relief and gratitude for the arrest, but also reaffirmed the University's commitment to improving security on and around campus.

"I was concerned, as many of the students were, that we might have a killer running in our midst," Brody said at the press conference. "Not only as president, but as a parent, I can tell you that the safety and security of our students is of paramount importance to us at Johns Hopkins. We have been working very hard...to enhance that safety and security. I pledge today that we will not let up in our dedication to that effort."

Junior Katie Francis said she believes the University will follow through on its efforts to improve security.

"I think they will go through with the plans, because they can only help prevent [crime]," Francis said. "Although it doesn't seem like this one event could have been prevented by the security measures. It seems like an isolated incident...But I'm glad Hopkins has taken it so seriously. They've been pursuing this investigation for a while."