As students, faculty and staff logged on to the LSU Web site Monday, they noticed a link stating, “Help find Carrie Lynn Yoder.”
Yoder is the biological sciences graduate student who has been missing since Wednesday. Police still are searching for Yoder and asking anyone with tips to call the tipline.
University Relations and the Office of Computing Services started the Web site at the request of Yoder’s family, said Gene Sands, University Relations executive director.
The Web site went up around noon, but during the day, searchers received a notice saying too many visitors were visiting the site at the time. At 9:45 p.m. Monday, the site had received 2,888 hits.
Sands said the family asked the University to host the site. The University had reconfigured its homepage to include information on staying safe.
“This exhausts every possibility,” Sands said. “We are not going to leave any stone unturned.”
The Web site allows students to stay abreast on the most recent news and safety tips. It also gives Yoder’s biography, pictures and vital statistics. In addition, anyone with information can send a tip through the Web site. Sands said he was unsure how the tips would be handled, but he said he assumes the family would be able to see the tips.
“We are doing everything possible to keep her name and picture out,” Sands said.
There will be a Vigil of Hope held Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the Union Theater for Yoder.
“We never give up hope,” Sands said.
In addition to the prayer vigil, the University will hold a “Stay Safe Day” Wednesday in the Union. The day will consist of a series of seminars in the Union’s Vieux Carre Room at 12:40 p.m., 1:40 p.m. and 2:40 p.m.
Kathy Saichuk, coordinator of the Student Wellness Center and Rape Aggression Defense instructor, and LSUPD Capt. Mark Shaw will speak at the seminars.
They will discuss campus security, self-defense classes and how individuals can protect themselves.
There also will be a table set up outside the Union with “Stay Safe” information for students.
Though Yoder is considered a missing person, many students and residents fear her disappearance may be linked to the south Louisiana serial killer. The same man is known to have murdered Gina Wilson Green, 41, September 2001, Charlotte Murray Pace, 22, May 31, Pam Kinamore, 44, July 16 and Trinesha Dene Colomb, 23, Nov. 24.
With the heightened increase in security around campus and the city, students are concerned.
Kevin Faulk, a business administration freshman, said he keeps his guard up, but he has not taken any extra precautions.
“When my [girl] friends are going home, we call each other to make sure everybody made it,” Faulk said.
Irina Truhane, a participant of the English Language Orientation Program, said she bought pepper spray, and she always locks doors.
“They told me to buy a cell phone to call friends and say, ‘I’m home, I’m okay,'” Truhane said.
Stephanie Vincens, a social work graduate student, said she has never let her guard down.
“It’s sad that [the serial killer] is so common now; it’s just something we’ve been dealing with for a while now,” Vincens said. “I’ve been here since 1995, and this is the first time I’ve had mace.”
Shane Waller, a secondary education senior, said he works at Mellow Mushroom, and it is a tense atmosphere of which girls are starting to become more aware.
“They are starting to take precautions, such as installing surveillance cameras,” Waller said. “I think there are more pictures of Yoder because she’s No. 5, and there’s more of a sense of urgency.”