The plight of jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich ’14 is never far from the thoughts of many on campus, and it’s now front and center for those who pass through Smith Union.
The monitor that hangs at the union’s hub—near the mail center, C-store, and entrance to Morrell Lounge—features a counter that ticks off the number of days Gershkovich has been detained in Russia.
Mason Daugherty ’25, who is part of the WBOR management team, first considered adding a counter to the station’s homepage but realized the unused monitor in Smith Union might be just the well-trafficked spot to put the quiet but important message.
“Over time, it’s easy to lose hope in situations like this,” Daugherty said. “Additionally, life moves on, making it inevitable that issues like these gradually fade from our collective consciousness. That’s a dangerous slope to go down, especially when the stakes are as high as they are."
A computer science and digital and computational studies coordinate major from Dallas, Texas, Daugherty says he acquired the skillset necessary to pull together a counter like this himself after consultation with director of security Randy Nichols and Jason Pelletier, senior director of client services and technology.
Gershkovich was arrested on March 29, 2023, while on assignment for The Wall Street Journal in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. Facing unsubstantiated charges of espionage, Gershkovich will likely remain in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison until at least June 30, while he awaits a trial date.
This page features regular updates on court proceedings. Click to learn how you can support Evan Gershkovich.
