ISU Student and Champion Golfer Celia Barquin Arozamena Murdered at Coldwater Golf Course

[Trice]

I completed my undergraduate at a small private school in Iowa. That school has a pipeline of students, and has for years, from Columbia and Mexico. I was at an alumni gathering and the Pres of the school spoke. He said he is now being questioned from Columbian and Mexican families and school officials if Iowa and the US was safe. He said it was the first time in his 20 years that he was ever asked that. Let that sink in for awhile.

I'm sure lots of parents, grandparents, relatives of children raised in Iowa in the 1980s were asking themselves whether Iowa was a safe place to raise their kids back then, in the wake of a couple of high-profile kidnappings. Time will tell, but I suspect that years from now this will also be viewed as a tragic coincidence and not an indicator that any population (women, in this case) is any less safe than it was months or years ago.

 

[ISUTex]

The guy seems like he belonged in a halfway house or mental institution.

This is a tragedy.

He belongs on the gallows.

 

[isufbcurt]

Right back at you.
There are plenty here against moving it, while only one that suggested bulldozing or setting aflame, and even he didn’t ask the homeless be in it.

Don’t be obtuse. His primary point was to move and destroy the camp (bulldoze or fire), not to murder them.

most people didn't even know the homeless were there before this incident because there had been minimal issues before this.

 

[herbicide]

I completed my undergraduate at a small private school in Iowa. That school has a pipeline of students, and has for years, from Columbia and Mexico. I was at an alumni gathering and the Pres of the school spoke. He said he is now being questioned from Columbian and Mexican families and school officials if Iowa and the US was safe. He said it was the first time in his 20 years that he was ever asked that. Let that sink in for awhile.

I've been asked by European friends if the US is safe too...

Despite the terrible news yesterday and recently, murders and violence are at or near historic lows.

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-02-12/pssst-crime-may-be-near-an-all-time-low

 

[cycfan1]

I completed my undergraduate at a small private school in Iowa. That school has a pipeline of students, and has for years, from Columbia and Mexico. I was at an alumni gathering and the Pres of the school spoke. He said he is now being questioned from Columbian and Mexican families and school officials if Iowa and the US was safe. He said it was the first time in his 20 years that he was ever asked that. Let that sink in for awhile.

Why do i need to let something sink in that is not true?
I've heard this terrible news from this morning from 30 different media outlets.
Had it happened 20 years ago i doubt i would have even heard outside the state of Iowa.

There a certainly a ton of things to improve upon on safety in the US, but Iowa is not even close to one of them - albeit certainly has a black eye over the last few weeks.

 

[FinalFourCy]

most people didn't even know the homeless were there before this incident because there had been minimal issues before this.

So you’re against moving the camp, right?

 

[TXCyclones]

I love the letter that Pollard sent out. I've become a real fan of his.

Sept. 18, 2018


Dear Cyclone fans,

It is with a very heavy heart that I share thoughts on the tragic passing of our former women’s golfer Celia Barquin Arozamena. Celia, who was the Big 12 Champion last year, was scheduled to be honored at this week’s home football game as our Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Celia, who is from Spain, was a fifth-year senior planning to graduate this spring with a degree in civil engineering.

Although the details of her passing are still being investigated, it is believed she was the victim of a senseless act of random violence committed by a total stranger, in broad daylight, while playing golf at the Coldwater Golf Course. This situation clearly cuts at the very core of our community, our institution and especially our athletics program.

I wish there were words or actions that would make this all better. Unfortunately, that is simply not the case. Losing one of our student-athletes is like losing a child. We are all devastated and heart-broken.

We also know that we must carry on in the same spirit that Celia lived her life. She was a passionate, caring and vibrant young lady who was so proud to be a Cyclone. She attended all the sporting events of her fellow student-athletes and was so excited to be selected as our 2018 Female Athlete of the Year. In fact, when she was told she was going to be honored on the field at this Saturday’s football game, she broke down and cried.

The purpose of this letter is to share with you we plan to move forward with honoring Celia on Saturday at the home football game. We will honor her with a video tribute and a moment of silence, prior to the marching band playing the national anthem. The tribute will take place at approximately 10:50 a.m. We strongly encourage all Cyclone fans to be in their seats by 10:45 a.m. to pay tribute and show her grieving teammates, coaches and friends, what it feels like to be fully embraced by Cyclone Nation.

I look forward to seeing you in the stadium Saturday morning.

Go Cyclones!


Jamie Pollard
Director of Athletics

 

[ClonesFTW]

I've been asked by European friends if the US is safe too...

Despite the terrible news yesterday and recently, murders and violence are at or near historic lows.

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-02-12/pssst-crime-may-be-near-an-all-time-low

Awareness is at an all-time high, that is why people perceive (violence, racism, etc.) to be worse now than before - although it is not.

 

[FinalFourCy]

???

The link probably has more than its fair share of bias in it, but the numbers don't lie. It is much more expensive for us taxpayers than life in prison.

What, or who, are driving a good amount of the due process costs?

Those against the death penalty citing increased costs largely incurred from people being against the death penalty is the “bit of circular logic” I was referencing.

The death penalty argument doesn’t move the needle either way personally, as the punitive and preventive impact of life or death sentences largely depends on the perpetrator.

 

[isufbcurt]

So you’re against moving the camp, right?

I don't think it is necessary. One bad guy and incident doesn't mean the rest are going to commit crimes, especially given the history that they haven't committed crimes.

 

[Tre4ISU]

I don't think it is necessary. One bad guy and incident doesn't mean the rest are going to commit crimes, especially given the history that they haven't committed crimes.

Certainly isn't necessary and your post is right on. Having said that, do you expect the womens golf program to ever want to play there again? I mean, maybe they will and maybe it won't be as big of a deal as I perceive, but I wouldn't blame them for staying at the practice facility and travelling to the Harvester or requesting a change to Veenker.

 

[jsb]

I love the letter that Pollard sent out. I've become a real fan of his.

Sept. 18, 2018


Dear Cyclone fans,

It is with a very heavy heart that I share thoughts on the tragic passing of our former women’s golfer Celia Barquin Arozamena. Celia, who was the Big 12 Champion last year, was scheduled to be honored at this week’s home football game as our Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Celia, who is from Spain, was a fifth-year senior planning to graduate this spring with a degree in civil engineering.

Although the details of her passing are still being investigated, it is believed she was the victim of a senseless act of random violence committed by a total stranger, in broad daylight, while playing golf at the Coldwater Golf Course. This situation clearly cuts at the very core of our community, our institution and especially our athletics program.

I wish there were words or actions that would make this all better. Unfortunately, that is simply not the case. Losing one of our student-athletes is like losing a child. We are all devastated and heart-broken.

We also know that we must carry on in the same spirit that Celia lived her life. She was a passionate, caring and vibrant young lady who was so proud to be a Cyclone. She attended all the sporting events of her fellow student-athletes and was so excited to be selected as our 2018 Female Athlete of the Year. In fact, when she was told she was going to be honored on the field at this Saturday’s football game, she broke down and cried.

The purpose of this letter is to share with you we plan to move forward with honoring Celia on Saturday at the home football game. We will honor her with a video tribute and a moment of silence, prior to the marching band playing the national anthem. The tribute will take place at approximately 10:50 a.m. We strongly encourage all Cyclone fans to be in their seats by 10:45 a.m. to pay tribute and show her grieving teammates, coaches and friends, what it feels like to be fully embraced by Cyclone Nation.

I look forward to seeing you in the stadium Saturday morning.

Go Cyclones!


Jamie Pollard
Director of Athletics

I was wondering when they had planned to honor the athletes of the year. It’s heartbreaking that she won’t get to do that.

Hopefully everyone can pack up their tailgate a little bit earlier than normal and get to their seats in time.

 

[jsb]

Certainly isn't necessary and your post is right on. Having said that, do you expect the womens golf program to ever want to play there again? I mean, maybe they will and maybe it won't be as big of a deal as I perceive, but I wouldn't blame them for staying at the practice facility and travelling to the Harvester or requesting a change to Veenker.

I’m going to guess that a lot of people won’t want to play there. Not because it won’t be safe (I imagine it will be the safest place in ames) but because it will be a sad place.

 

[herbicide]

What, or who, are driving a good amount of the due process costs?

Those against the death penalty citing increased costs largely incurred from people being against the death penalty is the “bit of circular logic” I was referencing.

The death penalty argument doesn’t move the needle either way personally, as the punitive and preventive impact of life or death sentences largely depends on the perpetrator.

These "numbers" are what they are. It doesn't matter "who" drives the costs, the facts show without question that it is more expensive to administer the death penalty than a life in prison sentence.

You can argue if it is worth it or not, as that is a separate argument that I will not get into here or anywhere else. What you cannot argue that it is less expensive than life in prison, because it is simply not.

 

[isufbcurt]

Certainly isn't necessary and your post is right on. Having said that, do you expect the womens golf program to ever want to play there again? I mean, maybe they will and maybe it won't be as big of a deal as I perceive, but I wouldn't blame them for staying at the practice facility and travelling to the Harvester or requesting a change to Veenker.

I don't think them wanting to play there again would have much to do with the camp near by. I would think the fact playing a course where a friend/teammate died would be emotionally enough to not want to play there (at least until anyone on the team now graduates).

 

[isu_ce]

I don't think it is necessary. One bad guy and incident doesn't mean the rest are going to commit crimes, especially given the history that they haven't committed crimes.

They may want to think about moving on their own. There's going to be a steady stream of guys through that area, armed with steel bludgeons, that won't be happy to see someone from that camp anywhere near the course from now on.

 

[jbindm]

I don't think it is necessary. One bad guy and incident doesn't mean the rest are going to commit crimes, especially given the history that they haven't committed crimes.

I would understand if they moved the camp if for no other reason than for the benefit of public perception. Anything to create a sense of safety or security in that neighborhood. But I don't think it's any kind of realistic solution to anything.

 

[jbindm]

I was wondering when they had planned to honor the athletes of the year. It’s heartbreaking that she won’t get to do that.

Hopefully everyone can pack up their tailgate a little bit earlier than normal and get to their seats in time.

Agreed. Hopefully the local media will pick it up and help get the word out so there's no excuse to not be in the stadium and seated by 10:45.

 

[TXCyclones]

In St Paul Minnesota they built an apartment complex in an industrial area where homeless people are free to live and drink themselves to death if they desire. That is not hyperbole.

The city has acknowledged that some folks don't want help, will always be addicted and homeless, and it's cheaper to house them until their natural death than it is to deal with them in the criminal justice system.

Reminds me of this:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-lost-chinese-city-police-feared-to-enter

 

[alarson]

For those who want somewhere to take your torches and pitchforks- don't look at the homeless camps. They may need to move, but ultimately those aren't the main issue. If you want to be angry at anyone (besides the POS who did this), be angry at those who have consistently dropped the ball the last few decades and have left our mental health care system in shambles and have focused our judicial system on drugs instead of on people like this, who were well known to the system yet consistently let off the hook.