BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
When six University of Cincinnati architecture students were seriously hurt in a car crash weeks before this weekend's graduation, shock was soon replaced by action.
People from the Greater Cincinnati area sent cards, parents called, employers sent best wishes and architecture alumni nationwide offered to help the students finish their senior projects.
Closer to home, their classmates dealt with a tragedy.
"These are very strong, very intelligent students, and they're all managing to deal with it in their own individual way," said Barry Stedman, associate dean of the UC College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP).
"They're dealing with it in a very mature fashion. It's weighing on all of them, certainly ones who were closest to the injured students." Walter Wyder, 24; Nicholas Brozovic, 25; William Sloane, 24; Michael Keifling, 28; Dana Dixon, 24; and Shane Gerson, 23; were returning from a field trip to Indianapolis May 12 when their minivan rear-ended a truck on I-74 and caught fire.
The accident captured headlines and hearts.
"Everybody was very positive and supportive," said Mr. Simmons. "People all over the country knew about this. It's evidently something which has captured people's attention."
More than 100 miles away, the fourth- and fifth-graders from Wickliffe Alternative Elementary School in Upper Arlington, Ohio, drew pictures and wrote letters to Mr. Wyder.
Teacher Wendi Wu, who works with Mr. Wyder's sister, said "My kids wanted to send something. They wanted him to keep his chin up."
THP Ltd. in Cincinnati, where Mr. Wyder was a co-operative employee, is preparing to welcome him back whenever he's ready to return. "I think he will be recovering for some time, and when he's ready to resume work we'd be happy to have him. He's a wonderful employee," said Mark Hoffman, chairman.
The company, which designs and repairs buildings, has talked to its building managers about designing their offices for Mr. Wyder and his wheelchair, said Mr. Hoffman.
UC helped, too, by waiving the students' final requirements and allowing them to graduate with their peers.
"The faculty reviewed their work to date and determined that they could graduate with their class," said UC spokesman Greg Hand. "All of their work was of a satisfactory nature."
Days after the accident, students in the architecture program huddled in small groups talking about what had happened. They held vigils and put six large white candles near an entrance to the DAAP building.
