Vol. 17, No. 14	Dec. 11, 1997

Staff helps student in distress

Shay, a work-study student at the Student Services Building, said she would not have been able to buy the new car without the help of her fellow employees.

"I have never experienced the compassion that the people at the Student Services Building showed and continue to show me," she said.

In September, Shay was traveling from Wilmington. As she neared Newark, she noticed smoke rising from the rear of the car. While on the off-ramp, the car began to shake.

"My backpack fell off the front seat," she said. "Thank God I didn't hit any lights."

Shay turned into the Delaware Field House parking lot and the car's hood began to smoke. As she jumped out of the car, the front caught fire- first the right side and then the hood. A student who happened to be in the lot offered Shay a car phone, and she called 911.

"About three minutes later Officer William Staker arrived," she said. "He was incredible.'"

Shay said his compassion made her feel much better, but when she got to work the full impact of what had happened hit her. Shay's boss-Laura Boyd, financial aid-took Shay into her office. They spoke for only 15 minutes, but it wasn't long before the entire staff had heard about her car. Later, Shay discovered that someone had sent an e-mail to the staff explaining what had happened.

The next day, Shay found a card on her desk. Signed by everyone in the office, the card also included $400 to help buy a new car.

"I want the people I work with to understand my complete thankfulness," she said. "That is why I wrote a letter to UD President David Roselle. I wanted him to know that he really does have incredible people working for him."

-Heather Miller