Contact Program Contact Kathyrn Widman American Democracy Project (765) 455-9491 Family Service Association of Howard County, Inc. (765) 457-9313 Media Contact Mary Ellen Stephenson OCM (765) 455-9414 mestephe@iuk.edu

Students, community rally against domestic violence

Phi Sigma Sigma members selling paper hands for Angel Walk/Take Back the Night include, front, Katie Wall, Krista VanHoose, and Faith Rose-Scales; back, Barb Hall, Jenna Easter, and Megan Williams.

KOKOMO, Ind.—Walkers in 20 community teams and 13 teams from Indiana University Kokomo will line Washington Street in Kokomo on Tuesday, April 24, bringing attention and donations to the cause of stopping domestic violence.

For the second year, the campus will team with Family Service Association (FSA) of Howard County, Inc., to present Angel Walk/Take Back the Night. Volunteer walking teams are collecting sponsorship donations and will march in the one-mile Angel Walk, starting and ending at IU Kokomo. Proceeds benefit FSA’s domestic violence programs.

A pre-walk Take Back the Night rally starts at 5:15 p.m. in Alumni Hall and continues after the walk. Open to the public, the rally will include live radio coverage by Z92.5’s Allan James, student displays, music, and refreshments.

The IU Kokomo community raised $6,000 for Angel Walk in 2006, and has set a goal of $7,000 this year. “I am so impressed with the commitment of IU Kokomo staff, faculty, and students to the cause of preventing and stopping domestic violence,” said Karen Altergott, director of the FSA domestic violence programs. “It shows in all the different and creative fundraisers the people are doing this year.”

Students are raising FSA donations through indoor golf and basketball challenges, a mystery dinner theatre, sales of ribbons and paper hands, and a “professors jail,” in which organizers temporarily “lock up” popular faculty members and seek “bail” donations. On Saturday evening, April 14, the Student Union Board plans a benefit concert in Kresge Auditorium, featuring the reggae/blues band Pie Boys Flat.

Since last year’s rally, Altergott said, IU Kokomo students have become year-round supporters of FSA’s efforts against domestic violence. Phi Sigma Sigma sorority helped clean and paint FSA’s shelter last fall. Division of Education students and faculty led a community effort to refurbish a children’s playroom at the shelter and donated therapeutic books and toys.

Many IU Kokomo students are part-time employees for FSA, Altergott added. “They work hard and are super competent individuals who have a passion to serve women and children in crisis. I almost hate to see them graduate because they are such terrific employees.”

“It has been great to have our students work with an agency in the community whose mission is so applicable to our academic programs,” said Kathryn Widman, coordinator of student programming and applied learning at IU Kokomo. “Students ranging from nursing and criminal justice to education and business have had the opportunity to apply what they’re learning in the classroom to real-world experiences with FSA.”

Angel Walk/Take Back the Night is sponsored by the campus’ American Democracy Project, part of a nationwide movement to promote civic engagement among college students. Walkers can register by contacting Kathryn Widman at (765) 455-9491 or Family Service Association at (765) 457-9313.

2006 Angel Walk/Take Back the Night