Unfortunate realities

It is hard to imagine the situation Indiana University currently faces could get any worse as it prepares for freshman orientation to begin.

The damage from a series of violent storms a few weeks ago seemed to be enough for Bloomington to handle, but that cannot compare to IU student Lauren Spierer’s disappearance 10 days ago.

The ongoing search for Lauren has been an amazing effort which I hope prevails.

Friends, family, police and volunteers have searched all over town, including the local lakes Griffy, Lemon and Monroe.

Anywhere you go, you will find fliers posted inside store windows, inside car windows and taped to streetlights.

The organization of these efforts would never have been possible 10 years ago.

Although we would prefer never  to be faced with an issue requiring it, Facebook and Twitter have enabled people to reach out for the community’s help in tragic situations — such as Lauren’s disappearance — and create a direct line of contact to the search team.

As we’ve seen, the search has gotten the attention of the national media.

Lauren’s case has been circulating on many national networks, including NBC’s “The Today Show.”

According to Indianapolis news station WTHR, Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, offered a reward of $10,000 for information leading to Lauren’s return. 

Local Bloomington Lawyer Ken Nunn has offered a reward of $25,000 for the arrest and conviction of anyone who may have hurt Lauren .
 
A missing person case that gains national attention such as this is always tragic, but they also raise substantial questions about our society.

First, let me say I support all the media attention that Lauren’s case receives and any form of help to find her should be used.

But I do sympathize with the families and friends of other missing persons who received little media attention and I realize they would like to know why their loved one’s disappearance wasn’t treated with the same amount of thoroughness.

For instance, the disappearance of Bloomington woman Crystal Grubb last fall, which has probably become more of a topic of discussion now than while she was missing.

The fact of the matter is that when someone goes missing, it’s tragic. There is no case less tragic than another and I fail to see how an explanation can be given to the lower income families that have lost a loved one.

I’m not criticizing the media coverage of Lauren Spierer, I am criticizing the lack of coverage of so many other people that have gone missing.

Even a fraction of the support from the media for Lauren should happen for everyone, regardless of demographic or economic standing.

Although I believe that is how it should be, I can’t honestly expect it to become reality.   

­— agreiner@indiana.edu