People On Campus for April 2000
First Monday
People On Campus
People On Campus is published in FirstMonday by the Public Affairs and Publications offices at SFSU. 415/338-1665. pubcom@sfsu.edu


People On Campus

Shelley Cole--Thinking of others, on and off the job

"I didn't want to get involved." It's a phrase often heard today, an excuse given by people who had an opportunity to protect others or make a bad situation better but instead chose not to. But Shelley Cole, a member of SF State's Campus Support Services afternoon restroom custodial team, did get involved, and his troubles earned him an award for helping to make his Oakland community a safer place.

Shelley Cole never imagined that an ordinary trip to the bank would change his life so dramatically that he would end up playing an important role in putting a killer behind bars. But that's what happened when Cole witnessed an act of violence and, in spite of the risks involved, chose to take action.

"I was waiting at the bus stop when this car flew by," Cole remembers. "I found out later there was a man and a 6-year-old girl in the car." According to Cole, the driver made a U-turn--almost hitting another car in the process--right in front of the small crowd of people waiting for the bus at the intersection of Hegenberger Road and Enterprise Way in Oakland. "The passenger side door flew open right in front of me. So that made me kind of jump--it was so strange," says Cole. He recalls hearing a loud cracking sound. "At first I wasn't sure what it was, but then I saw everyone ducking, and I realized a bullet had whizzed right past my head."

"The bus stop is right near a school," Cole explains. "It was around 3 o'clock in the afternoon, so I knew school would be letting out soon. I was concerned that something else might happen and children in the area would get hurt. I got on the bus and got off at the police substation [at nearby Eastmont mall] to notify them."

This simple act began a two-year journey that took Cole through the entire court proceedings to the successful prosecution of the perpetrator. Because of Cole's statement and his continuing cooperation in the investigation, the police found the assailant, who was eventually convicted for kidnapping and murdering the 6-year-old-girl who was in the car that day.

It can be a frightening experience to face a killer in the courtroom, but Cole says he felt it was important to stay involved. "I was never afraid for myself, but I was worried about my family. I have a 5-year-old daughter. But I knew this was the right thing to do, and sometimes you just have to step up and do what's right, even when there are risks involved."

Cole joined San Francisco State's Campus Support Services team in the summer of 1997 because, he says, it offered an opportunity for advancement, and he liked the idea of being in an environment that fostered learning. He says he enjoys working at SFSU. "The people I work with are great. We're a team." Cole takes pride in what he does and does his best to do a good job, completing his work without interfering with students and faculty. The students, faculty, and staff undoubtedly appreciate his work, ev en though they may not spend time actively thinking about it. It is precisely this consideration for others that the citizens of Cole's community felt merited a special honor.

This past February, the Rotary Club of Oakland notified Cole that he had been selected as one of the five recipients of the club's Seventh Annual Courageous Citizens Award. Cole says he was truly surprised when he heard the news. But in a time when many people are afraid to testify for fear of retaliation against themselves or their families, Cole's act was an act of bravery. Such integrity and concern for others has made Cole a valuable citizen of the Oakland community, and a valuable member of SFSU's Campus Support Services team.

--Sarah Fidelibus

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