A freshman missing since his July IntroDUCKtion session was reportedly sighted in the Knight Library Monday. Jake Lander, 18, was last seen leaving his tour group to find a trash can for his leftover bread crusts. When he didn’t return after two hours, his group leader alerted the Department of Public Safety, who conducted a four-day search and were unable to find any clues as to Lander’s whereabouts.
“We’re positive he simply became lost and couldn’t find his way back to the group,” officer Alan Golding said.
Reports of a boy similar to Lander’s height and build wandering aimlessly around campus had been turning up all over.
“I just thought he was a really young hobo or something,” said junior Stacy Martin, who spotted Lander shuffling around the EMU in August.
It wasn’t until sophomore Ken Leonard found Lander using a drinking fountain on the second floor of the library to bathe himself that the connection was made.
“His leg was propped up really awkwardly … I think he was trying to wash his thigh,” said Leonard. “He looked really confused, and I asked him if he needed help with anything, but he just walked away — and I wasn’t about to go after him … he smelled awful.”
The whereabouts of Lander are still unknown.
Leonard has created a “Where’s Jake Lander?” Facebook group in hopes of reuniting him with his IntroDUCKtion group — many of whom have already transferred to Oregon State in fear of getting lost on campus as well.
“We have to help the poor kid,” Leonard said. “That day, before he disappeared, he looked back at me and said, ‘This campus … it’s just so … big.’”
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