Campus, Bloomington show up for Lauren, rain or shine

Small clusters of friends and families stood on the sidewalk in front of Smallwood Plaza on Thursday evening. One of those families, Robert and Charlene Spierer, chatted with their friends, Lauren’s friends and IU students.

IU Hillel president Melody Mostow handed out the last of her box of 200 light blue #findLauren ribbons. She ran out in less than 15 minutes.

Mostow, Hillel and 19 other campus organizations spent two weeks planning Thursday’s concert.

“It’s been like some insane dedication,” she said as she looked for empty shirts to pin her remaining ribbons on.

Junior Jessica Davidson stood in a circle with about 15 of her Theta Phi Alpha sorority sisters. She announced the concert at their chapter meeting and encouraged girls to attend.

“I think it’s something everyone was willing to support,” Davidson said. “It’s going to be a very touching experience. People are coming to get that and to support her family.”

The mass of supporters began walking down Eighth Street, making their way to Dunn Meadow. Bike police blocked intersections for the walkers, who stretched more than one city block length.

***

Rain began to fall as people funneled into Dunn Meadow. Students, residents, volunteers and IU employees packed in close to the stage. Trees bordering Dunn Meadow bearing light blue satin bows matched the ribbons on thousands of people’s shirts.

Seniors Jenna Graham and Megan Woodsmall huddled under umbrellas with junior Emily Graham, Jenna’s little sister. The girls spent the summer in Bloomington and said they dealt daily with Lauren’s disappearance.

“I worked four blocks from where she was last seen,” Jenna Graham said. “I had a lot of anxiety.”

They stood in the rain to try and do something, anything, to help find Lauren.
“Her mom’s made it pretty clear,” Emily Graham said. “People who don’t come forward are cowards.”

Like a lot of students, they wondered how they were supposed to act at a concert dedicated to a missing fellow student.

“I’ve seen Brice Fox and Daniel Weber at Dunnkirk and everyone’s really hammered and having fun,” Woodsmall said. “But hopefully this will be more about awareness.”

***
Shortly after B97 DJ Matt Theil took the stage, a documentary telling the story of Lauren’s disappearance hushed the crowd. Pictures and names of four “persons of interest” aired: Jay Rosenbaum, Corey Rossman, David Rohn and Michael Beth.

Robert Spierer’s face filled the screen. He urged someone, anyone, to come forward. He said they can’t bring their daughter back by themselves.

“The task is too large and the information provided so far has been sparse,” he said.
His voice echoed through a silent Dunn Meadow.

***

Clayton Anderson took the stage and told the audience of his initial reaction to Lauren Spierer’s disappearance.

“You feel something close when it happens in your backyard,” he said.

Anderson opened with “All For You” by Sister Hazel.

“Finally I figured it out,” he began to sing.

But then he stopped. The crowd wasn’t into it.

“Oh, come on now, I didn’t stand out in the rain for this,” he said jokingly, trying hard to lighten the mood. “Make some noise!”

A group of girls close to the stage jumped up and down, screaming. Their enthusiasm spread outward. Anderson again asked the crowd to make some noise. He vetoed their first feeble attempt.

“That’s not how we do it at Indiana University,” he said.

But on the second attempt, enthusiasm caught on. Attendees lowered umbrellas to raise their hands, clapping to the beat. Anderson continued with his set, crooning a blend of pop and country to a peppy crowd.

“Clayton Anderson had a huge task of getting people into a singing-dancing mood,” Jenna Graham said.

But he succeeded and turned the stage over to IU Coach Tom Crean.

***

The second documentary aired to a mix of “Intro” by The xx and “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars.

Pictures of Lauren as a baby flashed on the screen, then preschool pictures. Pictures of Lauren in high school, then Facebook profile pictures. The last picture was the alley behind Smallwood — the last place Lauren was seen on camera.

The crowd’s mood was up and down throughout the concert. But it sunk the lowest as Lauren’s face appeared.

“There were a lot of people crying. I was crying,” Jenna Graham said. “When they were saying, ‘This could be your sister, this could be your friend,’ I was standing there with my sister and my best friend. It’s heartbreaking.”

***

As Dot Dot Dot took the stage, tarps barely sheltered their gear from the rain, and collecting water almost collapsed them.

“If you people are willing to stand out here in the rain, then by gosh, we’re willing to do this,” the lead singer said.

They began their upbeat pop-rock set, rocking out on stage to try and boost the crowd’s enthusiasm. The lead singer’s voice began to go hoarse, and band members pulled up their hoods to shield themselves from the downpour.

“There is something about you people in Bloomington,” the lead singer said. “We’re out here ruining our gear and loving it.”

They ended on Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.” As the lead singer’s voice faded out, enthusiastic girls shrieked the lyrics at the top of their lungs. By this point, because of the rain, there weren’t many people left. But those who were still there covered themselves in ponchos and sang along.

***

The rain let up as Robert and Charlene Spierer took the stage. Robert was drenched, and Charlene’s wet bangs stuck to her forehead.

“I’m not sure what your motivation was for coming out tonight,” Charlene said. “But whatever it was, Robby and I are grateful.”

She talked about awareness, about the importance of continuing to shine a light on Lauren.

“It would be a tragedy to let Lauren disappear a second time.” Robert Spierer echoed his wife’s plea.

“We’re focused on the sharing of information to find our baby girl,” he said. “Do the right thing.”

He then asked for a moment of silence for Lauren.

As the Spierers left the stage, the crowd began clapping. Slow, subdued, but steady.

***

Brice Fox and Daniel Weber sang “Fix You” by Coldplay. Rain began falling softly.
“Lights will guide you home,” Weber sang.

Thiel took the stage. The original plan — to light up cell phones for Lauren — wasn’t going to change.

“The rain can’t stop us from bringing Lauren home,” he said.

Those remaining at the concert set their umbrellas aside. Pulling out their cell phones, each attendee stretched it toward the dark sky, fully aware that the rain could ruin their phones.

“We’re shining a light to guide Lauren home,” Thiel said.