Three weeks after the assault and attempted murder of a 17-year-old Gunn student that left students and staff stunned, the campus is beginning the healing process.

The victim, who an acquaintance who wishes to remain anonymous described as “kind of quiet, but really sweet,” has not yet returned to school.

Principal Noreen Likins said she doubts the victim will come back to Gunn. “Often in situations like this, people don’t want to go back to the environment they were in,” she said.

The victim’s guidance counselor and a few of her teachers have been in contact with the victim and are providing her with the materials necessary for independent study, Assistant Principal Kim Cowell said.

The school provides the option for independent study for any student who is out of school for an extended period of time.

“Whatever she would like to do, we’ll do our best to support her intent,” Cowell said. “Our commitment to her is long-term as we help her to graduate from high school. It’s not a two-week thing.”

Cowell stressed that it is important that the victim make the decision about what to do next. “When a person is kidnapped or assaulted, all the power is taken away from that individual,” she said. “She needs to be in control. That’s crucial to her healing.”

Assistant Principal Phil Winston said the school has extended “every available resource” to the family, but according to Likins, the victim may or may not be open to counseling. “The idea of going to a therapist or a counselor is really foreign to some people,” she said. “Sometimes people don’t want to talk through and relive the experience; they want to turn their back on it.”

The school recently set up a fund to buy the victim a laptop computer and help cover medical expenses. Last Wednesday, an anonymous donor brought in a laptop for the victim, which was delivered to her Friday. Donations will now go toward covering the victim’s medical expenses or academic needs. There is a collection basket in the main office for cards for the victim and checks, which should be made out to Gunn High School and have “student assistance” written on the memo line. There was also a collection box at the Turkey Feast last Thursday for checks.

Although the school is officially sponsoring the fund, several parents are working on communication and publicity.

“We wanted to show support from the Gunn community for this girl and her family,” Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) parliamentarian Joan Jacobus, who is helping publicize the fund, said.

Law teacher Patricia Bruegger held a contest between her two Law 1 classes to raise money for the victim. Bruegger will reward the class that raises the most money with a party later this month. At press time, the combined classes had raised more than $1000.

Bruegger said about half the money came from students’ wallets and half of it came from their parents. Almost every one of the 45 students in the course donated something.

“It’s just really touching to see these kids stepping up to the plate,” Bruegger said. “I think it’s important to this girl to realize that there’s a lot of positive energy out there wanting her to get through this.”

The Law 1 students also signed cards for the victim. “As long as you exist, you are winning and succeeding and persevering,” one student wrote.

Student Executive Council members are pooling money to buy the victim a stuffed animal and a card, senior Spirit Commissioner Ashley Gries said.

The administration is working to help staff members and students deal with the aftermath of the assault.Numerous staff members have spoken to guidance counselors about the incident, according to Cowell.

Last Tuesday, the school held a question and answer session about the incident for staff members.

Palo Alto Police Department Sergeant Scott Wong and Adolescent Counseling Services program coordinator Margaret Murchan answered questions about the incident and gave information to teachers about mental health services to pass on to students. “The main message teachers are giving students is that if you’re still having trouble dealing with this, please seek help,” Cowell said. “The same goes for staff.”

Cowell said the incident could bring up painful memories for staff members who may have been assaulted. “Statistically, there are teachers who may well have had a very traumatic assault experience,” she said. Cowell added that these staff members are a testament to the fact that victims of assault can recover and lead normal lives.

Murchan passed out handouts with self-defense and safety tips to teachers at the meeting. B period teachers read them aloud to students last Friday after announcements. “We might be able to do something bigger after some healing has taken place,” Cowell said.

Police arrested 2006 Palo Alto High School (Paly) graduate Todd David Burpee Nov. 1 in connection with the incident. He was arraigned in court Nov. 6 for kidnapping, assault and attempted murder.

Trevor Bisset, a 2005 Paly graduate who played football with Burpee, described him as a “gentle kid” who “wasn’t necessarily a standout in school, but never abused substances.”

Bisset said he couldn’t think of any reasons why Burpee committed the crime except that “maybe he needed help, but didn’t see the opportunity to get it.” He also said that Burpee was a “well-rounded, great guy who was always wiling to help people.”

Opportunities and Independent Study teacher Ken Plough said he initially thought police had arrested the wrong suspect. “Up until I heard the confession, I kept on thinking, they gotta be wrong,” Plough said. “He’s the kind of guy that would talk other kids out of getting into trouble.”

Plough got to know Burpee when he taught at Paly two years ago. The two would talk in the Paly weight room, where Burpee worked out during his prep periods and Plough supervised his special education students on the machines.

“I see this as an aberration in behavior,” Plough said. “I think that we have multiple victims in this situation.”

Plough said Burpee would frequently ask him questions about his experience in the Marine Corps. Burpee, who Plough described as “strong and fast,” was especially interested in the physical training troops undergo.

According to Plough, Burpee moved around a lot while he was growing up. The stability of a life in the Marines, along with a being part of such an honorable organization, may have also influenced Burpee’s desire to join after he graduated, Plough said.

“He wanted to go into the Marines so he could belong and get a fresh start,” Plough said. Burpee failed the aptitude test to join the Marines before he graduated.

Burpee told police at the arraignment Nov. 6 that he has “been through a lot” and keeps a lot of things pent up inside. Things got difficult for him after high school, according to police reports.

Police arrested Burpee a few weeks before the incident for credit fraud at Mountain View Sports Authority, where he worked.

Burpee is currently being held without bail in the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose. He will next appear in court Dec. 12.

—Additional reporting by Alana Alfrey, Aurelle Amram, Libby Craig, Sasha Guttentag and Stéphanie Keller-Busque