Thought-provoking. It's the best way to describe the evening inside the beautiful Hutton Honors College at Indiana University, Bloomington for Themester 2012! The topic: "Good Behavior-Bad Behavior: Molecules to Morality."
Warmth filled the room, from both the relaxing fire in the fireplace and the conversations fueled by "The Girl in the Yellow Scarf." As I spoke to the diverse crowd of students, staff, and Bloomington area residents, I felt the connection between a group of people who dared to explore the dynamics of racism, the culture of small communities and the unwritten rules of conduct among families.
It was striking to be in such a rich environment designed to foster knowledge, growth and culture and yet realize that just 30-minutes from where we sat a community still struggles to emerge from a tarnished reputation of bigotry.
We talked about the 7-year old child who witnessed Carol Jenkins' brutal murder, and the four letter word, "F-E-A-R" that kept an ugly secret locked away for too many years.
For more than 90-minutes we bantered back and forth, and afterwards more private opportunities to share about everything from my role as a reporter working on the case, to the dueling roles of the media and law enforcement.
Most impressive was the emotional reaction of the students. Young people with hearts trying to understand behaviors that were once acceptable norms, while cultivating their own moral standards and paths to the future.
Reading the book is certainly one thing, but examining the underlying steps to morality is a valuable lesson for any student of life.
For more on the IU visit:
http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=89166
(ISBN: 978-0-615-60705-4) She was a child witness with an impossible choice... Now Sandra Chapman takes you beyond the headlines of the $7 dollar secret and the key to solving the 1968 case.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Saturday, October 13, 2012
A Salute to Carol's Hometown
The leaves are changing colors and the slight chill in the air signal a very special time in Indiana.
Autumn is here and with it memories of a young woman who was remembered in part because of the bright yellow scarf she wore the night of her fateful encounter with darkness.
On these beautiful fall days, I choose to remember Carol for her vibrant spirit and the hope that her legacy can illuminate in us all. I've never been reminded so much of this, as the Saturday afternoon I spent in Rushville, Indiana... Carol Jenkins' hometown.
Several of the town's forward thinking businessmen and women extended a kind invitation for me to visit Rushville for a book signing for "The Girl in the Yellow Scarf." What transpired was awesome!
Our book team was met with amazing warmth and a perfect day to talk about Rushville, Carol and the book that many Rushville residents say they're glad has been written. For many it filled in missing gaps on what happened back in 1968 and beyond. I learned a few things too! Someone shared that no news articles had ever been written in Rushville about Carol, her death or the 33-year old murder mystery. Most of what residents say they knew was based on information from outside of their community. It was truly my pleasure to sign books and to talk to Carol's former high school classmates about their times with her.
We told stories, took pictures and shared smiles for hours. What delighted my heart most was to see how the community embraced Carol's father, Paul Davis. They were there to support him as much as anything, and to me that speaks of real community! It was a day that he could bask in knowing his town would remember his daughter, and that they cared enough to support a work in her honor. At the same time, they would learn more about another daughter, one who shed light on a case that had baffled so many.
It was also fun to talk with David Willkie..Wendell Willkie's grandson. He too stopped by to support us, and shared about working in New York at 60-Minutes when the 2002 arrest was made in the Carol Jenkins Murder Case. Here he was in our nation's largest city reading on the front page of the New York Times about the case that was unfolding back in his home state of Indiana! It was fascinating to hear his version of this big news. It gave me such a different perspective.
Thank you Rushville for a remarkable day. It was a great stop on our journey. We're heading now to Indiana University in Bloomington for "Themester 2012 to talk about the molecules to morality!
Autumn is here and with it memories of a young woman who was remembered in part because of the bright yellow scarf she wore the night of her fateful encounter with darkness.
On these beautiful fall days, I choose to remember Carol for her vibrant spirit and the hope that her legacy can illuminate in us all. I've never been reminded so much of this, as the Saturday afternoon I spent in Rushville, Indiana... Carol Jenkins' hometown.
Several of the town's forward thinking businessmen and women extended a kind invitation for me to visit Rushville for a book signing for "The Girl in the Yellow Scarf." What transpired was awesome!
Our book team was met with amazing warmth and a perfect day to talk about Rushville, Carol and the book that many Rushville residents say they're glad has been written. For many it filled in missing gaps on what happened back in 1968 and beyond. I learned a few things too! Someone shared that no news articles had ever been written in Rushville about Carol, her death or the 33-year old murder mystery. Most of what residents say they knew was based on information from outside of their community. It was truly my pleasure to sign books and to talk to Carol's former high school classmates about their times with her.
We told stories, took pictures and shared smiles for hours. What delighted my heart most was to see how the community embraced Carol's father, Paul Davis. They were there to support him as much as anything, and to me that speaks of real community! It was a day that he could bask in knowing his town would remember his daughter, and that they cared enough to support a work in her honor. At the same time, they would learn more about another daughter, one who shed light on a case that had baffled so many.
It was also fun to talk with David Willkie..Wendell Willkie's grandson. He too stopped by to support us, and shared about working in New York at 60-Minutes when the 2002 arrest was made in the Carol Jenkins Murder Case. Here he was in our nation's largest city reading on the front page of the New York Times about the case that was unfolding back in his home state of Indiana! It was fascinating to hear his version of this big news. It gave me such a different perspective.
Thank you Rushville for a remarkable day. It was a great stop on our journey. We're heading now to Indiana University in Bloomington for "Themester 2012 to talk about the molecules to morality!
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