Campus, community mourn loss of AU student
Special to the News
Auburn police have confirmed that they are investigating the death of 18-year-old Auburn University student Lauren A. Burk as a homicide.
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Auburn University students gathered Wednesday evening to remember a young woman, who one friend described as a “free spirit” and “well-liked.”
Auburn freshman Lauren A. Burk, of Marietta, Ga., died Tuesday night after being shot. While investigators tried to piece together the events that lead to her death, family, friends and peers gathered to pay their respects.
Nearly 100 students, including her sisters in the Delta Gamma sorority, gathered for a prayer vigil in the parking lot where her torched car had been discovered the night before.
Just after 9 p.m. Tuesday, Auburn police responded to a call of an “injured female,” later identified as Burk, on U.S. Highway 147 who suffered a gunshot wound, according to police reports. Less than half an hour later, the Auburn Fire Division responded to a car fire in a campus parking lot. That vehicle was later determined to belong to Burk.
During the vigil, the Delta Gamma sisters gathered in a semi-circle around the parking space where fragments and glass from her charred car remained Wednesday afternoon.
The news of Burk’s death sent shockwaves through the Marietta, Ga., and Auburn communities.
“She (Lauren) was a great student, a great kid and a great leader just like so many of the other kids we send to Auburn University,” said Dr. Tom Higgins, principal of Walton High School in Marietta where Burk graduated last year. “We notified our staff and faculty about the incident this morning and will make counselors available to assist grieving students.”
One of Burk’s former high school colleagues and current AU student, Elizabeth Chandler, 18, remembers Burk as a person everyone liked.
“I know when someone dies everyone talks about how good they were, but Lauren really was a gorgeous person,” said Chandler who recalls Burk being a very outgoing and active student who played lacrosse and was part of the homecoming court at Walton High.
Chandler learned of Burk’s death this morning when she checked her cell phone and found several messages from current Walton High students.
From what Chandler said she understands thus far, Burk may have been killed some time after she left Sasnett Hall after visiting her boyfriend, Sean McQuade, also a former Walton High student and current AU student.
“They ( Lauren and Sean) were the cutest couple,” said Chandler, a Marietta native.
Jay Seyfried, a junior at Auburn University and also a graduate of Walton High where Burk attended, was a mutual friend of Burk and McQuade.
The junior International Business student learned that Lauren had gone missing around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night after dropping of an item on campus.
The idea that Burk’s killer was someone she knew is one Seyfried finds difficult to accept.
“Lauren was such a good judge of character,” Seyfried said. “She would never have been with someone she didn’t feel comfortable with.”
While he personally feels safe on the Auburn University campus, Seyfried said he’ll be more concerned about his girlfriend and other young women he knows as they travel on campus.
Chandler expressed similar concerns , but her thoughts and prayers are still with her fallen friend Lauren.
One of her (Lauren) favorite songs was Coldplay’s ‘(Don’t Panic)Beautiful World,’” said Chandler. “Today the world doesn’t look so beautiful.”
Reader Reactions
As an Auburn Alumni, I feel as though I have lost a member of my family. We all shall come together in this horific time and make sure that this killer is put to justice.
I assure you that Auburn University is one of the safest campuses in the US. Anyone who makes a decision about whether to attend Auburn because one gutless human-being smudged our reputation is doing it for the wrong reason. Just like with 9/11 and the VT shootings, if you choose to live your life differently because of the actions of a couple people, then you have let them win.
Auburn is a great place and the Auburn Family will show our strength.
Good Bless and War Eagle!!!
As a resident of Auburn, I am concerned about thLori Ann Slesinskie lack of effectiveness of the Auburn Police at solving the serious crime cases. The Dick Salmon murder and the Lori Ann Slesinski disappearance have gone unsolved too long. Now add to this the murder of Lauren Burk and I am beginning to wonder if the City of Auburn police doesn’t need to ask for some help in solving these crimes. I may be reacting too quickly to this last crime, but not to the Salmon and Slesinski cases. The Auburn police need to step up.
Conjecture about how the crime may have been committed only serves to fuel the rumor mill. There are only two people that know where she was taken, the victim and her murderer.
The victim’s car being found on campus burning doesn’t indicate where the crime was committed (dbarrs). Many students have been victim of crimes off campus as well as on campus.
dbarrs may have a valid criticism of the number of police on campus. I neither agree or disagree with it but if she feels so strongly about it, then perhaps her and some like minded friends should contact Mayor Hamm. I am happy with our Police Dept. because they are a group of dedicated professionals who do their jobs, often without any thanks from the public they protect.
As a general point, there is no need to inflame an already panicked campus with guesswork, sterile conjecture and rumors. Let us comment on the facts and more importantly, this young woman who was deprived of her life by someone who deserved the worst punishment that we can deliver.
Quote:
“I’m going to be a freshman at the Engineering Academy next fall and my dad is now really worried about sending me off to Auburn for school.“
Well, what is he going to do? Find the campus that has had the least amount of deaths in the past year?
Listen…the entire world is full of crazies. And Yes…right here in Auburn. No, it’s not NYC, but that’s why its even more dangerous!! People (as well as cops) expect this type of thing to happen in NYC, so the protect against it. But not here in Auburn. And that allows lunatics to have a peaceful time planning thier crimes.
Parents…the best thing to do, is to make sure you don’t send your kids off to ANY COLLEGE thinking it’s a wonderland. Equip them with the knowledge and understanding the need to stay safe. Let them know that criminals come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Self defense isn’t a bad idea either.
I agree that the loss of campus police has increased the potential for crime at Auburn. Visable protection is the most sufficient way to prevent crime on any street in America. Why is it that Clemson University has police, fire, and EMS service provided by the university (with 15,000 students) and Auburn has none of those components? At some point the price for safety if justified. If anything we need a supplemental security detail from 6:00PM until 6:00AM 7 days a week.
I am unhappy to see a member of our family taken this way! We must help protect our own, and I hope this bastard is brought to justice.
I have been watching the news and monitoring the Internet ever since I heard about Lauren’s tragedy. An earlier posting commented on how we needed to get this to the major news organization. Fox News has been running this story very strong. It is front page of the foxnews.com and Lauren’s story was just ran on “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren.“ The story she ran was not the best, the “friend” that they had on the piece was not the right person to interview. I wish they wouldn’t have even used him, since the last time he saw her was last December and he had only been talking to her via Facebook in the recent months. Also when they discussed where the car was found they didn’t even mention how much traffic the R/C zone parking lot normally gets, seeing everyone that lives on the Hill parks up there. I’m sorry for the loss of such a beautiful young girl. When we find the individual that did this…MAY GOD STRIKE HIM DOWN WHERE HIS COWARDLY ASS STANDS!
My thoughts and prayer go out to Lauren’s family, friends, and sisters at AU. I myself am a current student at Auburn and I would just like to point out that our University has taken tons of precautions to protect our safety both before and since this incident. Auburn has a night security van service that insures that no one will have to travel across campus after dark alone. Emergency towers are located throughout the campus. Our on-campus alert system was even activated today to dispel rumors of the shooting taking place on campus. The best thing for ALL women to do in ANY situation is to be completely aware of your surroundings and don’t take added risks unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. Auburn is an amazing place to live and go to school. Just keep in mind that there are “bad” people throughout the world and even in the “loveliest village on the Plains.“ Be careful, everyone and God be with each of you.
I know that we are all shocked and saddened at the loss of a fellow Auburn family member, but I don’t believe that we should read so much into this incident. If we look at the facts, this is a totally different type of shooting. For some unknown, sickening reason, Lauren was singled out. The murderer knew what car she drove, and was angry enough with her to burn it. I would argue that changes are needed at campuses all over the US, but we (women especially) should not allow these crazy people to paralyze us with fear. I’ve walked around campus at night numerous times before, and have never felt unsafe. I may alter my habits, but I will not live in fear.
I wonder how this will effect Auburn’s female enrollment for next year. I mean, I’m going to be a freshman at the Engineering Academy next fall and my dad is now really worried about sending me off to Auburn for school. I’ll admit this makes me a little uneasy, and I don’t know about other future students. All prayers with the police force and the families involved. I know it takes a LONG time to get information I mean this work isn’t like CSI where the bad-guy is caught in an hour but we hope this investigation to be quick and the person responsable brought to justice.
My prayers to all affected. Everyone keep safe.
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