Contact Program Contact Sarah Sarber tudent Development & Campus Life (765) 455-9203 Media Contact Mary Ellen Stephenson OCM (765) 455-9414 mestephe@iuk.edu

Rally against violence draws 400

KOKOMO, Ind.—In its second annual Angel Walk/Take Back the Night rally on April 24, the Indiana University Kokomo community raised $5,563 in cash donations to benefit the domestic violence shelter operated by Family Service Association of Howard County, Inc. Sarah Sarber, director of Student Development and Campus Life, said classes also contributed in-kind donations valued at $1,000. Those gifts included activity boxes for children living at the shelter, created by education majors, and household and office supplies, donated by a class of returning adult students taught by Carol Garber.

The top three fundraising teams on campus were Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing junior class, and two organizations composed of criminal justice majors, the Criminal Justice Association and Alpha Phi Sigma honor society.

More than 400 students, faculty, staff and community members took part in the rally in Alumni Hall. Some 370 marched along Washington Street in the one-mile Angel Walk. Sixteen classes incorporated the event and the topic of domestic violence into their spring semester curricula and and displayed student research posters at the rally.

“Our campus has truly embraced the cause of ending domestic and interpersonal violence,” Sarber said. “This event takes the cooperation, hard work, and volunteerism of many people. Without all of their efforts and support, it would not be possible.

“I would also like to express my gratitude and congratulations to Kathryn Widman, coordinator of Programming and Applied Learning, for all of her hard work and success in putting together this memorable event.”

The evening also included a time of remembrance for the victims of the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech University. Rally attendees were invited to sign a quilt signifying IU Kokomo’s support for the Virginia school. Norma L. Vieke of Sharpsville and her son, John Vieke, IU Kokomo’s student body president, created the quilt, which will be sent to Virginia Tech.

Cathy Hightower during the Virginia Tech remembrance

Angel Walk marchers along Washington Street

Chancellor Ruth Person, Sandi Giver, Norma Vieke, and John Vieke with the tribute quilt

Students sign the quilt for Virginia Tech.