The mental scenery is always the same: I was visiting my parents for a post-Christmas celebration. Instead of snow, we got rain. It drummed down for days.
The perpetual pitter-patter supplied the perfect background noise for napping. I slid into the covers, situated to slumber, and the phone rang.
It was my editor, nervous and stammering. He asked me to call the parents of a missing college freshman. Her name, Jodi Sanderholm, is one I'll never forget.
No one in the news room wanted to touch the story because of its sensitive nature. I covered it for four days, hoping for Jodi's magical return.
And then I learned the brutal truth. Jodi had been kidnapped, raped, murdered, buried under brush and left for the coyotes to chomp on.
Murder in the Midwest.
At first I viewed the event as anomoly; a crime so graphic that it only occured in larger places. But then, a 14-year-old girl was abducted and raped in my home town: Sedan. The town's most rampant crime is underaged drinking. The sidewalks roll-up at 8 p.m. and the town's activity is extinguished like a candle flame. Nothing happens there.
Or I so I thought. Events like these have enhanced my perception of danger. For some unexplainable reason, people kill, rape and mutilate other people. Its the most mysterious, grisly occurence in this world, but it happens. According to the U.S. Dept. of Justice a woman in America is raped every two minutes.
That's just America folks. If you googlenews "murder" or "rape" the search engine will generate a plethora of stories, many with mugshots of a suspect, who appear normal, and some with pictures of young women murdered in their prime.
Fortunately, there are programs and institutions designed to reduce the likelihood of such an event. One of these programs is Baker's Women's Programs and Initiatives, which might be phased out next year because its grant will expire.
The program was sparked by a two-year grant produced by the Violence Against Women's Act. Its purpose is to offer resources for women in abusive relationships, to enhance communication on campus, and strengthen campus safety.
Tracy Williams, coordinator of women's programs and initiatives, has been in charge of the program since its inception in March of 2006.
"It's intended to create community and campus awareness about sexual and dating violence," Williams said. "Just because Baker is a small campus does not mean it is immune to violence."
Williams said the program has applied for a three-year contract renewal, but only 15 out of 120 applicants will be selected.
"Two years is not enough time to make social change," Williams said. "I certainly hope that we get a grant renewal."
In its two years, the program has increased the amount of lighting in dark campus areas, offered one-on-one counsel for abused women, and held presentations designed to show how alcohol increases women objectification, as well as shared advice on safety practices.
Sophomore Emily Beye is a peer educator for the program and she has facilitated many presentations articulated to increase campus awareness of violence against women, and offered consolement to the abused.
"The purpose is that people will have a student to talk to, as opposed to an adult," Beye said.
Beye believes that the program has significantly impacted campus and she also hopes for a grant renewal.
And so do I. The troubling fact is that even if Baker is selected, 87.5 percent of schools will not be. That is a chilling number.
I hope it doesn't result in another phone call from an editor.
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2 comments:
This is a good article. It's sad that only a certain number will be able get renewed and can continue helping people where as the rest are just left out. Then again, they wouldn't necessarily have to go through that kind of stuff to continue helping people. Or at least I wouldn't think so. I'm not aware of what all the programs do nor am I aware of what all they need to continue. I used to think stuff like murders and rapes only happened in big cities as well. It didn’t take me long to realize that rapes can happen just about anywhere because I heard about it happening every now and again around here. I was shocked when I found out a murder, Jodi’s case, happened here. It makes me nervous to walk by myself now.
Thank You for bringing awareness to this issue and this program we are in danger of losing. The effort to stop Violence against women can never cease. Baker is lucky to have this for women. All sister's need to stand up and no longer be silent. Violence against women and girl's is a Global Pandemic. Guy's also need to get involved and open the door to this Taboo subject. It's someone's Mom, someone's Sister or someone's Daughter. I pray everyone will revitalize the Spirit of this Program!
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