TASK FORCE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN CHAMPIONS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN AT KALAMAZOO COLLEGE
A Task Force on Violence Against Women, formed in January, 2000, by President James F. Jones, Jr. of Kalamazoo College, is moving forward to implement a series of recommendations made in a June, 2000, report to the President, in light of the violent death of Maggie, a sophomore at the college in October, 1999.
The recommendations of the Task Force stem from concerns raised on campus by the Women's Equity Coalition (WEC), the Women's Resources Center (WRC), the Women's Studies Faculty and by Maggie's family. The proposed activities in the report include work in the following areas:
* Advisory Structure -- Task Force will implement the report and monitor institutional changes that will signify an environment that is safe for women.
* Judicial System -- Revise processes so that students can more easily and effectively report violations of college policy involving violence against women.
* Orientation of First Year Students -- Provide materials and information to incoming students, parents on gender issues and violence in dating relationships.
* Security -- Increase number of security officers and train them on gender issues.
* Public Information -- Widely distribute information on resources available on campus and in the community on suicide prevention, stalking and violence in relationships.
* Programming -- Offer lectures and programs in the residence halls, including female-only sessions on dating violence and men-to-men dialogues on violence against women. Include athletes in all such activities.
* Curriculum -- Add regular Women's Studies courses on violence against women and a women's self defense class for credit.
* Funding -- Continue to fund a newly created half-time Women's Resources Coordinator and increase budgets for programming described above as well as for additional counselling staff.
Maggie's family is grateful for the response of the college in these critical areas and appreciates the hard work and dedication of Kalamazoo College students, faculty, administrators and trustees to making the college a safer place for all students, male and female.
For the full text of the Task Force recommendations, click here.
January 14, 2000
Memorial Service for Maggie at K-College Stetson Chapel
. . . Click for remarks at service and stories in Kalamazoo Gazette.
February 20-26, 2000
Domestic Violence Awareness
Week at K-College
. . . Click for remarks by Maggie's family at Candlelight Vigil.
April 26, 2000
Marianne Williamson Does
Healing Service at K-College
. . . Click for Kalamazoo Gazette story on internationally known spiritual leader's visit to K-College.
May 14, 2000
Maggie's Family Speaks Out at Million Mom March in Lansing
June 8, 2000
College Task Force on Violence Against Women Issues Report
. . . See below for summary of recommendations and link to full text.
June 7, 2000
Bench, Tree Dedicated to Maggie on Green at K-College
. . . Click for remarks at Dedication and scroll down.
July 15, 2000
First Annual Maggie's Golf Outing (MGO) is a Big Success
October 2, 2000
First Monday in October Event Dedicated to Maggie
. . . Click for remarks by Maggie's family.
October 18, 2000
First Anniversary of Maggie's Death
. . . For the Letter to the Editor published in The Index, the Kalamazoo College student newspaper from Rick and Martha, Maggie's stepfather and mother, click here.
. . . For the Viewpoint article, "Reduce Gun Violence in Memory of Slain Student," published in the Kalamazoo Gazette, October 25, by Maggie's stepfather, Rick, click here.
. . . For the Op-Ed article, "The Changes That Maggie's Killing Brought," published in the
Hartford Courant on December 22, by Maggie's Aunt Susan, click here.
Remembering Maggie Events
Year 2005
October 25, 2005
Remembering Maggie:
Living Beyond Abuse and Violence In Our Lives (LAC)
Location: Dalton Theatre, Kalamazoo College Time: 7 pm
Sponsored by The Women’s Programming Division of Student Development, Dean of Students Office
Maggie Wardle was a 19-year-old sophomore at Kalamazoo College in October, 1999, when she was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, who then killed himself. Determined not to have this bright, talented young woman who seemed the most unlikely victim of intimate partner violence die in vain, Maggie’s family is transforming tragedy into a unique opportunity to help others move beyond abuse and violence in their lives. Maggie’s aunt, Susan Omilian, an attorney and published author, will join our campus to tell us about the innovative and groundbreaking work she is doing in Maggie’s memory. Because Maggie’s moment of realizing she was being abused was the moment of her death, Susan now empowers other women to transform their lives after abuse and discover that “living well is the best revenge.” This event will be followed by a reception and time with Maggie’s family and friends.
October 24, 2005
Women’s Power Circle
Location: L. Lee Stryker Center Room 1, Kalamazoo College
Time: 4 p.m.
Sponsored by: The Women’s Programming Division of Student Development, Dean of Students Office
As survivors of abuse, violence and loss, women often lose their power to feelings of anger, depression and hopelessness. By reconnecting to positive energy in a small, intimate circle of women, they can find a safe space to explore how their experiences can bring new vigor and purpose to their lives. Susan Omilian, an attorney and published author who has advocated for over the 30 years on women’s issues, has conducted women’s power circles at colleges across the country since her 19-year-old niece, Maggie, a college sophomore, was shot and killed in October, 1999, by her ex-boyfriend who then killed himself. Maggie didn’t live beyond the moment of realizing she was being abused, but Susan now helps other women transform their lives after abuse in her memory.
October 18, 2005
Remembrance of Maggie at Her Bench on
Sixth Anniversary of Her Death
June 6, 2005
Maggie's Aunt Susan Receives
Women Making A Difference
Award of Soroptomist Club
Click here for more information.
_____________________________
Remembering Maggie Events
Year 2004
September 20, 2004
Maggie's Aunt Susan Receives
Woman of Character Award
Click here for more information.
May, 2004
Maggie's Parents March in
Washington D.C. Millon Mom's March
Remembering Maggie Events
of Year 2003
October 18, 2003
College Marks Fourth
Anniversary of Maggie's Death
On Saturday, October 18th, 2003, Maggie's family and friends marked the third anniversary of her death. At Kalamazoo College, Maggie's bench, dedicated to her memory in June, 2000, was the focus of a remembrance of her throughout the day. The college announcement of the event read: "Violence in a relationship is a national concern and many people, the majority of who have been women have died as a direct result of such violence. Lest, we forget that no place and no one is immune from relationship violence, we commit to remembering Maggie and her story. Maggie was a 19-year-old sophomore here at Kalamazoo College when she was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend who then killed himslef. On this day, a flower and candle arrangement will be placed on her bench. You are invited to take a moment of silence in remembrance of Maggie."
Remembering Maggie Events
YEAR 2002
June 15, 2002
Maggie Receives Her Degree
From Kalamazoo College
With Maggie's family and friends looking on, a Bachelor of Arts degree was awarded posthumously to Maggie by Kalamazoo College on Saturday afternoon, June 15, 2002. The degree was conferred by President James F. Jones, Jr., in a private ceremony before the graduation services were held on the quad.
At the graduation services, members of Maggie's graduating class wore white carnations on their gowns in memory of their classmate and during the ceremony, when provost Gregory S. Mahler announced Maggie's name, the assembled masses gave a long applause.
Discussing the gesture, a friend of Maggie's who graduated that Saturday, said: "It was a beautiful, touching moment when they remembered her. I know she's in a better place."
Click here for full text of news article on the graduation.
April 1, 2002
Michigan Law Redefines Domestic Violence
Due to Courageous Testimony of Maggie's Family
It used to be that in Michigan a man's abuse of his girlfriend was not considered to be as serious a crime as a man's abuse of his wife. As of April 1, 2002, the state's was expanded to include dating relationships in its definition of domestic violence.
This change, recognizing that serious violence happens in dating relationships, had been called for almost a decade, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported, but there were some who believed that there wasn't as much danger of violence in dating relationships or that it wasn't that severe.
The process was accelerated, however, by a story shared by a local couple, the newspaper wrote, who lost their daughter to domestic violence.
"The parents of that young lady spoke very openly and very poignantly about how domestic violence should be extended to dating relationships," said Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor Greg Russell said about Maggie's mother and stepfather who spoke at a forum in February, 2001, for the Domestic Violence Homicide Task Force led by Michigan Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus. "And Posthumus got the ball rolling." For more about the public forum that Rick and Martha testified at, see below and click here for full text of Gazette article.
__________________________________________
Remembering Maggie Events
YEAR 2001
