Search for Support head begins

University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said he plans to search within the department for a new director of Victim Support and Special Services to replace outgo - ing director Ruth Wells, who retired last week. "I think there is potential on this campus [for a new director]," Ku - previch said. "I think we [should] look internally because [Victim & Support] is unique in the way it represents, not just women, but any victim." Wells retired from her position as director of Victim Support last & week, citing her health as the major reason. She said she occasionally suffers from high blood pressure and that it was "time to take better care" of herself. She added that although & her job was rewarding, it was also very "stressful." Wells said, however, she will act as a consultant to Victim Support at least until this spring. Kuprevich said that Rose Hooks, administrative assistant to the di - rector of Victim Support, will take over many of the directorial duties until a director is appointed. "Rose Hooks was an administra - tive assistant to [Wells] for years here," Kuprevich said."Rose has & done a lot of the office work. She's handled a lot of the victims. She's handled a lot of court appearances. She's been [Wells'] right hand." He added that he is requesting a reclassification of Hooks' position that would make her an assistant director of Victim Support. Kupre - vich said the reclassification has yet to be approved. "I'm not sure whether Rose is interested in being the director. I haven't asked her that directly and she hasn't made it known," Kupre - vich said. "What has been estab - lished is that she's willing to take on, more formally, many of the du - ties Ruth had done." He added that someone will be hired, either to take Hooks' position as administrative assistant, or to be an interim director. "It's a little up in the air," Kupre - vich said. "But before we would & ever presume to put someone as a director of Victim Support and Spe - cial Services, we would have an in - ternal process that would [consult] other University members who & work with [Victim Support]." Hooks said last night she is tak - ing her new duties "day by day." "I'm making sure the level of ser - vice does not deteriorate in any & way," she said. Hooks said she has taken over many of Wells' duties including be - ing on call for immediate consulta - tion, referring victims to other ser - vices and working with University committees such as the Women's Center and the Aquaintance Rape Working Group. "There are a whole litany of & things [I do]," she said. "It's hard to pinpoint everything. We wear so & many different hats while working in this organization." She added that she will also make sure that the distribution of safety literature and safety programs & continues. Hooks declined to say, however, whether or not she would like to fill the Victim Support director posi - tion permanently. Kuprevich said he would miss & Wells' presence in the department and that she could never really be replaced. "Amongst the managers of this organization, she has -- beyond a doubt -- been the most effective in meeting the needs of this commun - ity," he said. "We can fill a position with someone, but I don't think & Ruth's care and concern can be & replaced."