Escaped Convict Thankful for Biola’s Hospitality
Ever since his close call with the authorities on Friday, September 26, twenty-eight year old Ronny Gordon has been staying with several students in the Hart Hall dormitory.
“I feel so blessed to be a part of this community,” Ronny said. “They took me right under their wings and have helped me to keep my head low.”
Campus Safety had issued a warning weeks ago to avoid a “male with a goatee, wearing a black tank top and blue shorts.” However, two Hart residents felt inclined to follow a greater calling.
“It’s not about who is or who isn’t running from the cops,” said sophomore John Beguiler. “Sometimes you have to look past the fact that someone has several helicopters trying to hunt him down. You just have to meet people as human beings, wherever they are.”
While most students were staying away from the active police search on lower campus, several Biolans noticed Ronny ducking through the bushes between the dormitory and the softball field.
“We offered him a water bottle and he took it. Then he asked if he could come inside the building. We were willing to offer him anything to help him out,” noted Beguiler’s roommate Terry Linden.
Students have teamed up to feed Mr. Gordon with pizza, salad, lunchmeat, apples, melon rinds and croutons from the school cafeteria.
Unfortunately, time is running out and a good thing can only last so long. Parolee Ronny, as he is fondly referred to, has a few options ahead of him. One promising hideaway is the sewer tunnel south of campus.
“The fact that the tunnel is so close means I can come back and visit these guys in Hart anytime,” Gordon says. “It’s been like a home away from jail for me.”
Students cannot say exactly why Ronny Gordon is on the most wanted list, but whether it was murder, theft or armed robbery the important thing is that he has been taken good care of. Gordon has gotten in plenty of rounds of Super Smash Brothers and says he enjoys going to floor barbecues as well as Singspiration.
John Beguiler stands by his decision to be a good Samaritan and take this lost man’s needs into his own hands. As Ronny is planning to move out, John is helping him forge important documents.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about sharing the love. We are part of one big family here at Biola,” said John as he drew the final touches on a fake Social Security card.
