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Murder, suicide attempts shock campus
by Amelia Gonzales, feature editor
As students were returning to classes after spring break,
the echoing sounds of screams for help stunned many.
Ariel Walden, 20, of Lubbock, was being
attacked by her alleged boyfriend Christopher Mills, 22,
also of Lubbock.
Campus police chief Joe McDowell says
that because the attack is still under investigation, many
of the details can still not be released.
McDowell did report that the alleged
couple engaged in an argument, which started in the PE
Complex and then continued outside the Complex parking lot.
The weapons found at the crime scene were a shotgun and a
double-edge dagger, which was used to stab
Walden repeatedly and was the same weapon that Mills then
used to stab himself twice in the neck area, according to
McDowell. McDowell added that it is not known whether the
shotgun was pulled out with the intentions of being used.
Within minutes of the incident, campus
police and EMS personnel were on site to assist in getting
medical help for both Mills and Walden. Several members of
the Maintenance Department and at least one faculty member
attempted to provide first aid to both individuals prior to
the arrival of EMS, according to eyewitnesses. Walden and
Mills were transported to Covenant Hospital Levelland and
then transferred to separate hospitals in Lubbock, where
both were listed in serious condition at first.
As of a week after the incident, Mills
has been released from University Medical Center and is
being held in the Hockley County jail on a $100,000 bond. He
was indicted by a Hockley Court Grand Jury on March 23.
Mills has been charged with aggravated assault/attempted
murder, which is classified as a felony 2, according to
McDowell.
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Groundbreaking held for Phase Two of
Fine Arts Building expansion
by Jennifer Conlee, co-associate editor
A groundbreaking ceremony kicked off Phase Two of the
expansion project that will add 12,500 square feet to the
Fine Arts Building at South Plains College.
The ceremony was held March 29 at the
east entrance of the Fine Arts Building.
The ceremony started with opening
remarks by Mike Box, chairman of the SPC Board of Regents.
This projects “marks the first time
that a building project is being supported, in part, by
private funds,” said Box.
Of the $2.7 million that is going
toward the project, $1.1 million was raised through private
grants and gifts.
“We’re very excited about the future of
the Fine Arts Department,” Box concluded.
Dr. Kelvin Sharp, president of SPC,
gave an update on the project. He explained that, because
of record rainfall and freezing weather, Phase One is 45
days behind schedule. He then explained that Phase Two will
add art studios, a new foyer for the SPC Theatre for the
Performing Arts, a recital hall, new restrooms for the
theatre, and a gallery that will house the entire Marjorie
Merriweather Post Art Collection.
Jon Johnson, chairperson of the Fine
Arts Department and professor of music, spoke about the
benefits this project is bringing to the college. He said
the renovated building will allow students and the community
of Levelland to have a more enriched lifestyle, artistically
and aesthetically.
The Helen Jones Foundation is
responsible for part of the funding for the project. James
Arnold, executive director of the Helen Jones Foundation,
said he was delighted that this project is taking place.
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