Task Force Formed to Coordinate Murder Investigation
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~~uWESTERN NEWS Western Michigan University Information Center 383·0040 Office of Public Information Volume 14,Number 12 TEL·U383·1444 ~M!CH!GAN November 19,1987 Sports Line "383·GOLD A ceIeIratilJrl.t~at was and will he. Mallinson, Dykstra Task force formed to coordinate murder investigation to be honored at reception University police have formed a task when she was last seen, and midnight, "Maybe by working t~ether, we can Members of the University community force of area law enforcement agencies University police said. Cunningham, 18, solve this terrible crime,'r- said Ruth are invited to attend a reception honoring to coordinate the investigation of the was reported missing at 10:50 a.m. Nov. Hoag, vice president and director of George G. Mallinson, distinguished Nov. 14 murder of Julie K. Cunningham, 15. security for First of America Inc. in professor in the College of Education, a freshman from Vicksburg. "The University community stands in Kalamazoo and president of Silent and Sidney Dykstra, associate dean of The task force, to be headed by WMU shock at the news of this brutal assault qbserver. the Graduate College, from 3 to 5 p.m. police Lt. Wesley R. Carpenter, will on one of our students," said President A flyer announcing the combined Monday, Nov. 30, at the Oaklands. The include representatives of seven agencies Haenicke. "The death of Julie Cun- reward and seeking relevant information event is being sponsored to honor their including Western. The others are the ningham is a terrible tragedy that deeply is to be distributed through three HOT 'n retirements by the Office of the Provost Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Depart- affects everyone on Western's campus. NOW locations in Kalamazoo, as well as and the Graduate College. ment, Kalamazoo Department of Public We join her family in their grief over the throughout the Kalamazoo community Safety, Kalamazoo Township Police loss of this fine young woman." " for a total of 35,000 copies, Hoag said. No News next week Department, Portage Police Department, She was the daughier of Dennis and The flyer is being produced by Media Michigan State Police and the Margot Cunningham of Vicksburg. Services and Printing Services at There will be no Western News Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office. Considered a good student, Cunningham Western in cooperation with Silent published next week, due to the "Each agency will identify a liaison had received a four-year $6,000 Board of Observer. Thanksgiving holiday. The next News person to work with University police in Trustees scholarship to attend Western Several counseling and safety will be published Thursday, Dec. 3, for the investigation," said Lanny H. Wilde, this fall. She competed for the award in measures have been implemented since which the deadline is noon Tuesday, public safety. "It will make the sharing Western's Medallion Scholarship com- the crime. Residents of the third floor of Dec. 1. of information and resources much petition last February. SiedscWag Hall, where Cunningham easier." As of Nov. 17, a total of 40 responses lived, were informed of the murder at a Accounting group is tops The task force was to have its first had been received by University police meeting at 10 p.m. Nov. 15. A second meeting Nov. 18 at WMU police in connection with the murder, Wilde meeting for residents of the entire Western's chapter of Beta Alpha Psi headquarters to identify procedures for said. Fifteen have come from the Draper-SiedscWag complex took place a has been selected as a "superior chapter" collecting information and following up Kalamazoo County Silent Observer half-hour later. Professional staff by its national organization for the 10th on it by placing it in a computerized data Program and 25 have come directly to members of the Counseling Center were consecutive year. base, Wilde said. The Michigan State Western. available to assist students in small There are 182 chapters of the profes- Police are providing the computer "Each lead will, of course, be followed groups after both meetings. " sional accounting honorary fraternity in resources, which will be located at up," Wilde said. "There are still no On Nov. 16, locks to the entrances of the country and only 50 achieved WMU police headquarters. suspects in the case." The investigation the residence hall complex where superior status in 1987. The organiza- The task force, which will meet daily will continue under the coordination of Cunningham lived were changed tion requires its members to excel for an indefinite period, will remain in the task force. because no keys were found with the academically and to be involved in effect until the crime is solved, Wilde The leads have come in response to victim or in her clothing, University professional and community activities. said. _ requests for information by University officials said. Those exterior doors were . To qualify for the honor, chapters had to Cunningham's body was found nude police and to the offer of rewards that guarded throughout Sunday night. earn at least 88 percent of the total by University police at 2:03 p.m. Nov. now total $20,000, he said. On Nov. 16, This fall, a number of new safety possible points through active participa- 15 under the bleachers at Kanley Track. the University offered a $10,000 reward measures have been implemented, tion in Beta Alpha Psi events. An autopsy conducted Nov. 16 con- for information leading to the arrest and including improved campus lighting, a The adviser to Western's 57-member firmed that she had been sexually conviction of anyone responsible for the student escort service and a student foot fraternity is David L. Rozelle, assaulted and strangled. murder. patrol. Additional measures will be put accountancy. Time of death was put between 7 p.m., It has since been decided that in place immediately (see related story Western's reward would be for informa- this page). tion leading only to an arrest. That University flags will be flown at Haenicke-reviews. security measures and - matches criteria for rewards of $5,000 half-staff until after a campus memorial each offered by the Silent Observer service, which is scheduled for noon outlines precautions for WMU community program and William Van Domelen, Tuesday, Nov. 24, at Kanley Chapel. owner of HOT 'n NOW Hamburgers The funeral will be at 3:30 p.m. "The key ingredients to any safety established, warnings in campus media Inc., a Southwest Michigan fast-food Thursday, Nov. 19, at Vicksburg Hi.8..h program are the choices we make as about after-dark travel were issued, chain based in Kalamazoo. (Continued on page four) individuals about what we do," President letters were sent to campus residents Haenicke told members of the University urging them not to use a pathway community in a letter Nov. 18. through the woods into Goldsworth Spruced up..... The letter, published in the Western Valley and articles were published in the The west end of Herald, was written in response to the Western Herald asking individuals to use the circle drive in Nov. 14 murder on campus of Julie K. caution when traveling alone on campus. front of the Bern- Cunningham, a WMU freshman from Those activities implemented this fall hard Student Vicksburg. were in addition to a number of long- "Julie's death reminds us all of the Center has some standing safety measures already in new landscaping, vulnerability of students, faculty and practice at the University. He said thanks to the e~ staff in spite of all our efforts to provide campus buildings are connected by a safe environment," Haenicke said. "I forts of the Kala- well-lit paths and that students have been mazoo area alum- am addressing this open letter to the strongly advised not to take short-cuts or ni of Mortar University community to review what travel alone after dark. Residence halls Board. With co- security measures the University have been locked at 11 p.m. on week- operation from provides and to point out the precautions days and at 1 a.m. on weekends. the student chap- each one of us must take to reduce Three to five marked police vehicles risks." ter of the honor are on patrol 24 hours a day, seven days society, a Norway Haenicke listed a set of "dos" and a week. In addition, there are 18 police spruce was pur- "don'ts" for members of the University call boxes, with telephones that require chased and plant- community to keep in mind. They are: no dialing, located throughout campus ed in commemor- • Do walk in well-lit, frequently under blue lights. Individuals on campus ation of the 200th travelled areas. also may report an emergency by dialing anniversary of the • Do walk with a friend, if at all 1-2-3 on a regular phone. When using U.S. Constitution. possible. an off-campus phone or coin phone (no Members of the • Do stay alert and be wary of coin needed), they may dial 9-1-1. organization dedi- suspicious looking activities and people. "The University, once again, is cated the tree in • Do avoid passing close to shrubbery, reviewing all safety procedures to ceremonies Nov. dark doorways and other places of determine what additional measures may 10. Participating possible concealment. be taken to strengthen the security on • Do avoid short-cuts, especially were, from left: campus," he said. Lisa L. Schaffner, through wooded areas and unlit paths. Additional measures that will be taken Don't hitchhike or pick up a senior from immediately include adding a fourth pair Jackson, who is hitchhikers. of students to the campus foot patrol.