Man cited for explicit photography at Elmen

By Lori Veurink

Mirror Staff Writer
January 25, 2008

On December 12, thanks to some select Augustana students, a man who had visited various locker rooms and had taken inappropriate photos was stopped.

“Our student body should feel proud that they actually stood up and stopped this guy,” said Rick Tupper, director of campus life.

Students in the locker room noticed a man who was not a regular but didn’t given him much thought until they returned from practice to find him still there.

Suspicions were further aroused when the man was seen showering with a group, then heading into the sauna with another group and showering with a third group. The students reported this incident to Campus Safety, who called the police.

When the police arrived, they arrested Timothy Fuehrer of Arizona. After seizing his cell phone, they found 59 photographs of nude men in locker rooms, with only six of the photographs having been taken at the Elmen Center. Fuehrer has been charged with a misdemeanor of taking photos without consent.

When asked about the incident senior Ben Hasche said, “It sent chills up my spine. I have never been the “victim” of a crime before, but to be quite honest, I do not feel victimized, because we would not let him get away with what he did.”

Hasche also said he feels uncomfortable with random strangers using the Elmen facilities but does not see it as a problem as long as the students remain aware of any unusual actives going on.

Tupper feels this is an isolated incident and should not cause students to feel uneasy while on campus. Tupper stressed that safety on campus is a serious thing and if something unusual is seen, it should be reported.

In regards to safety at the Elmen, no changes will be made. Tupper recommended that cell phones not be used in the locker room. He suggested adding a sign-in sheet for entrance to the locker room.

“It would be very difficult to change the security of the Elmen Center,” senior Bart Johnson said. “It is difficult to monitor who comes in or out of the building since it is open to the public. I think that people have to be aware of who comes into the locker room and report something if it is suspicious.”