Warren Central High School - Wigwam Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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ince the spring of 1985 signs ™ saying TOMA ' S COMING L brought curiosity to many stu- m dent ' s minds. But as the tem- V peratures started to rise, school was dismissed for summer and thoughts of the bold signs were pushed to the back of those minds. When school re-opened, much public- ity was given to the coming of David Toma, the famous police officer turned T.V. star, by school and community groups like TASK. But was it enough? Senior Student Council president Bubba Shrum commented, I didn ' t think it would affect the students the way it did. I thought a lot of them would just be there, some sleep. During the shortened periods on Sept. 4 there was a feeling of cynicism in the halls and classes. It was common to hear a student say, I know he ' s supposed to make a lot of people so upset that they cry, but I really can ' t picture the whole school in tears, especially me. As the press, township officials and students from Warren, Stonybrook, and Creston poured into the gym, the air was expectant. At a press conference, TOMA could not stay seated long to try to express himself. Pacing back and forth, TOMA never once slowed down during the three hour convocation. ' Gonna make you cry ' promise Toma kept Then he was there — commanding, in- forming, angry, sad, pleading. His theme was Don ' t do drugs. What exactly did Toma say in that hot, long intensifying two hours that made ev- eryone listen? I could identify with him myself, be- cause I ' ve had a lot of these problems. He got through to me when he told me that he loved me no matter what kind of person I was, good or bad, and he didn ' t even want anything back, a junior said. Toma, himself, would frequently ask a question at the smaller student sessions that were held throughout the day, and would continue on after he left. You kids . . . tell me what I did that got to ya? Youshowedusthatyoucaredand. . ., the student hesitated, as she looked around. Go ahead — don ' t be afraid, Toma said affectionately. You showed us that you cared, and you showed us that you loved us, the student completed. Toma hesitated a moment, and then said, with a smile on his face. Exactly ... I tell it from here (he put his hand over his heart, not from here he put his hand over his mouth). LOVE is the answer. We ' ve got to learn to love and touch. This society has forgotten how to touch and how to communicate. The student nodded her head in agree- ment, as she wiped tears from her eyes. 8