Vigil commemorates Candi Harms
HARMS from page 1
kept relighting his candle’s flame
every time it blew out. Five years
ago, Sears used the same persistence
in searching for Candi. He was
behind a campaign that spread but
tons, ribbons, posters and billboards
across Lincoln from September to
December, 1992, when her body was
found.
Scott Barney and Roger
Bjorklund were convicted for
Harms’ kidnapping and murder.
Barney, who led police to the body,
was sentenced to life in prison in
June 1994; Bjorklund was sentenced
to death three months later.
During that time, and after, Sears
was an unofficial spokesman to the
throng of reporters covering the
high-profile case. At Sunday’s dedi
cation, he was allowed to be a little
more quiet.
Instead, Becky Harms spoke
publicly for the first time about her
sister. She represented her parents,
Stan and Pat, who moved to
Minnesota recently, and couldn’t
come to the dedication.
“Time does diminish the pain,
but it in no way can refill the empti
ness,” she said, as the wind almost
drowned out her trembling voice. At
one point, tears came to her eyes,
and she had to pause. Seconds later,
Sears stepped beside her with an out
stretched arm. She continued.
She thanked the university and
students on behalf of her family, and
said the violence that caused Candi’s
tragedy could not be tolerated.
Jim Griesen, vice chancellor for
student affairs, told mourners about
a poem he read at Candi’s memorial
service; it was “A Passing Glimpse”
by Robert Frost.
J “I think that’s what many of us at
that time thought we had of her: a
passing glimpse of a beautiful per
son,” he said.
But Griesen asked that the
memorial stand for more than
Candi’s memory.
“I think the best way to com
memorate Candi is to fight anger,
fight aggression, and fight man’s
inhumanity to man,” Griesen said.
Andrew Loudon, who was a
UNL sophomore when Harms disap
peared, was later instrumental in get
ting the memorial built. He told
those at the dedication what Candi’s
death did to students.
“In fall, 1992 and the many
months that followed, this campus
came together as one,” he said.
After the disappearance, Loudon
said, fear descended on campus.
“There was a rush on mace. Every
girl had one of those things on her
key chain,” he said.
Loudon remembered how stu
dents followed the case as Harms’
body was found in December, 1992,
and the “deep, deep grief that fol
lowed.”
In 1994, Loudon was president
of the Association of Students of the
University of Nebraska, and helped
raise funds for the Harms memorial.
By the end of the memorial drive,
ASUN had $10,000, a majority of
which was $5 and $10 donations
dropped by students in a bin at the
Nebraska Union.
Stan and Pat Harms have said
they wanted the memorial to be a
bench where students could gather
because Candi always had so many
friends and loved others.
After the dedication, the hush
lifted, and family and friends relaxed
a little. Becky Harms thanked Sears
for his support during her speech.
“I had to fight something back
myself before I came over,” he told
her.
She said it was hard to stand
before so many people, especially
media, and talk about her sister.
“That’s something I’ve been trying
Sandy Summers/DN
TOM HILSABECK, 12, and his mother Cindy Hilsabeck, join their community
in honoring Candice Harms Sunday night at the Harms’ memorial dedication
ceremony.
to avoid.” remembers the day as the third
Tuesday marks the fifth anniver- anniversary of the day he met his
sary of Candi’s disappearance. For wife, Brenna.
years, Sears took that day off work “I’d rather focus on that instead,”
to v-isit Oandi’s grave. Now, he he said. ' * ‘ £
RHA sets
new date
for retreat
By Sarah Baker
Assignment Reporter
UNL’s Residence Hall
Association held an
unscheduled meeting this
week after canceling its
annual retreat. President
Ben Wallace said the retreat
was rescheduled because
few people signed up.
“Only 14 students
signed up, and we needed a
minimum of 24,” Wallace
said. “Hopefully since there
is more notice this time, we
will have a better turnout.”
The retreat has been
rescheduled for Oct. 25-26
at Camp Carol Joy Holling
in Ashland.
RHA will begin discus
sion on this year’s budget at
their Sept. 28 meeting.
Wallace provided the group
with an explanation of what
the budget is, and said he
will answer any questions
that members may have
before next week’s meeting.
The group also put out
this year’s first issue of its
newsletter, The Toilet
Paper, Sunday. Two copies
of the letter - which contain
general information about
RHA’s agenda— will be
posted in each residence
hall bathroom.
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