Profiles: Tiffany Bond and Glenn Walker

Student Heroes Pass Most Important Finals Week Test

One day it was a textbook lesson in introductory psychology. Two weeks later, it was front page news.

UC biology major Tiffany Bond and her fellow UC student Glenn Walker demonstrated this month how much they've learned in the classroom and in life. The two Toledo natives took quick and decisive action to rescue a 13-year-old boy from a vicious child molester in Clifton.

Just two weeks ago, Tiffany was sitting in her first-year psychology course listening to the harrowing story of Kitty Genovese, a New York City woman who was raped and murdered while at least 35 neighbors and bystanders did nothing.

"We were talking in class about people not helping," recalled Tiffany. "I thought if that happened to me, I would help. That lesson kind of stuck."

Tiffany also had some personal motivation for getting involved. "When I saw it was a little boy, I thought about my ten-year-old brother. If something happened to him, I would want someone to get involved. That played a big part."

The incident began Wednesday morning March 15 as Glenn and Tiffany were heading to their 8 a.m. final exams. They noticed two people scuffling and wrestling near McMillan and Wheeler. At first, they thought it was just a fight. Then, they noticed the boy. Tiffany ran to call the police. Glenn moved in with a broomstick he found.

"All I was thinking was 'Get the little boy out of the way.' Then the man jumped me, and I was concerned about my safety. He said he had a hypodermic needle. When Tiffany got back, I felt safe."

Together, the two improvised until police arrived, using anything they could find in the alleyway to fight back. "The man was coming like Superman," said Glenn. "I ran in the alley and picked up a rock and a bottle," continued Tiffany. "He was still coming. Then I saw a garbage can and used that."

"By the time the police showed up, it took four or five cops to hold him down," said Glenn, finishing the story they were to tell again and again to local news crews.

They were also reliving, in their own way, the horror of the Kitty Genovese story. "There were so many people just watching. If we didn't do something, nothing would have happened," said Glenn. "Absolutely nothing."

Cincinnati police and city officials were quick to congratulate the pair for risking their safety to help someone they didn't even know. "They gave this guy a run for his money," said District Five Sergeant Howard Pyles. "They didn't have to help. So many other people did nothing, but those two got involved. They are number one in my book."

Tiffany and Glenn have been nominated for a citizen's recognition award to be presented by the police in May. Cincinnati Councilman Paul Booth officially commended the students this week, saying their actions should be "an example for all citizens to get involved."

Two days after the attack, Tiffany and Glenn had made up their final exams, but they still hadn't told their families what had happened. Although both were hesitant to phone home with the news about their heroics, they didn't hesitate a second in thanking their families for raising them right.

"I'm glad my parents gave me a sense of responsibility," said Glenn. "From an early age, my family taught me about personal responsibility," continued Tiffany. "I never thought I was crazy for getting involved. I did the right thing."