Defecation at the CCC

By TITUS STUPFEL

Dan Marsh, resident and member of the Campus Christian Community’s ministry team, found human feces and waste products including paper, strewn around the bathroom and couches Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. when he opened the building.

According to Marsh, a member of one of the groups that rents the campus center on a weekly basis was likely responsible for the mess.

The woman in question needed a place to stay that night, so Marsh opted to let her stay at the CCC.

“It was probably accidental, not malicious,” said Marsh.  “It appeared that she made efforts to clean up after herself.”

Although she was nowhere to be found in the morning, her car remained outside the CCC for several days after.

The woman returned the following night to reenter the building.  She was not able to get in, and Marsh spoke with her.

Marsh called the Fredericksburg Police Department, and two officers were sent to the scene.  The officers escorted the woman to Mary Washington Hospital, where she was able to get cleaned up and was offered psychological assistance.

Located on Dandridge Street, the CCC is considered a safe haven by students, a place where anyone can go to worship together, to unwind, or to study, regardless of the time of day.

There are living quarters attached to the building so that someone is almost always guaranteed to be there after hours.

Marsh did not hesitate to allow the woman to stay, because he knows that there are very few options for those seeking immediate emergency shelter in the Fredericksburg area.

According to the Free Lance-Star, Micah Ecumenical Ministries’ Hospitality Center, a cold weather shelter composed of eight city churches in Fredericksburg, only houses the homeless “when temperatures dip below 32 degrees in the winter.”

The CCC Board met two days after the incident for their monthly meeting.  It was concluded that Marsh handled the case well.

In the future, such things will still be handled on a case-by-case basis.  Students are still able to take full advantage of the facilities overnight.