Remembering Dawn Rossignol
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Remembering DawnRossign ol Dining Service s responds to A YEAR LATER, COLBY REFLECTS ON TRAGEDY student concern over changes well aS remaining long lines By KATIE FULLER However, most students had positiv FEATURES EDITOR ,: 's very much on my mind; saying, "I hope that stu- . By KATIE HAMM her often. It responses from Dining Services ove me as a dean and dents will remember the EDITOR IN CHIEF it was painful for their concerns on the new changes. personally to lose a student," said contributions that she Although the new Dining Services "When I first encountered the pre One year after the death of Dawn Dean of Students and Vice President made to Colby and if they changes were meant to address time made wraps at Bobs I bypassed th> Rossignol '04, the Colby community for Student Affairs Janice Kassman. "I were a friend to her that concerns over long comment card rout still feels the effects of her murder in hope that everyone's remembering her they'll remember her lines seen last year, and went straight ti many ways. and celebrating her life, and will friendship." many of the dining Varun. I e-mailei Rossignol's body was found off Rice appreciate each day that we have." "I would hope that in halls will be going We valued our him my concern Rips Rd,- in the Messalonskee Stream in "It's a new year, there's a kind of addition to remembering back to last year's healthy relation- about increased fooi Oakland, about 300 yards from her car, energy and optimism that's appropri- the importance of being presentation after waste among othe on the morning of September 16, 2003. ate. My guess is that if you asked stu- safe and prudent on cam- an outcry of student ship with the things and not mon After a one-week investigation by the dents who were here last year, around pus, that students will input. Last year's student body than three hours late State Police, Edward J. Hackett was this date there's a kind of shadow. For also take some time to annual dining hall did he reply. Dinin] identified as the person responsible for those who knew her, that shadow is reflect on how fragile life survey revealed and listened to Services has alway her death. Rossignol was abducted that prominent. A lot of students still have can be. So many students students ' main con- what our cus- gone out of their wa; morning from the Hillside parking lot a feeling about it, and the reality of it were filled with regrets cern as time spent for the students, s> and the police determined that it was a will be awakened," Adams said. at things that they wish waiting in lines. tomers were the fact that the; random act of violence. In March, Those who knew Rossignol remem- they would have said, or However, students telling us. have . decided \< Hackett pleaded guilty to kidnapping ber her as a very compassionate, done with Dawn. reacted negatively return their old way and murder. He also pleaded guilty to friendly, quiet person. "She appreciat- Students made . an effort to some of the new Varun Avasthi based on studen aggravated assault and robbery. Hackett ed acts of kindness and the blessings to reach out to bne anoth- changes, which Director of Dining Services input is no surprise, was sentenced to life in prison; there is that came her way. She was close to er for a while, and to be ECHO RLE PHOTO included pre-made Allison Hertzber, no parole in Maine for a life sentence. her family, and spoke with them sev- safer for a while, but over Dawn Rossignol '04. as opposed to self- '06 said. In respons At the time of her death, a memori- eral times a week. She was a faithful time, returned to old pat- serve deli lines in Dana and Roberts to many requests like Hertzberg's, thi al service was held in Lorimer Chapel, friend and it was rare to see her terns. Each of us touches others lives the roads and a more visible presence Dining Halls. week Roberts returns to a self-serv during which President William D. alone," Father Tracy said. in so many ways and our common of security officers around campus. According to Dining Services deli on side two, Foss will continue it Adams, Professor of Biology Russell "I would characterize her as a quiet challenge is to try and. ensure that most Many of these recommendations have Director Varuri Avasthi, this particular new program with greater flexibility Johnson and Father Philip Tracy each person, loyal to her friends, a good of those ways are positive," Father been put in place already, including the change was meant to enhance the vari- and in Dana, Dining Services hopes t spoke about Rossignol. A year later, student," Johnson said. Tracy said. extension of the keycard access system ety of choices. "In trying to address speed up lines by making sandwiche Rossignol is still in the thoughts of While Colby students, faculty and In response to Rossignol's murder, and altering parking lot entrances. students ' busy lifestyles we looked at at students' requests. "While most c those individuals who were impacted staff will remember the events of last the College took an extensive look at "I would like to think that Colby ways to introduce a <juick grab and go our well-intentioned new ideas wer by her death; yet the somber sentiment September, Adams emphasized the security on campus and ways it could has changed somewhat for the better restaurant-style upscale deli program mostly met with students' desire t that was felt around campus immedi- grief of Rossignol 's family during this be improved. An independent security this past year. I believe that President at Dana. The introduction of the spe- return to the ways of past years, w ately following her death has lifted. time of year. company, the Kroll group, visited Adams and the college staff did a cialty station at Foss was also another valued our healthy relationship wit "With her class gone and having "The first order of reflection is the campus and wrote a conclusive report wonderful job of ministering to the step forward to provide some interest- the student body and listened to wh; one quarter of the students here not family, her and her memory. Everything with suggestions for security enhance- needs of the College, and also healing ing options to the traditional dining or our customers were telling us, knowing what really happened, I don't shrinks and pales in the anguish of what ments. These included more balanced some rifts that were present with the 'cafeteria food' that is typically con- Avasthi added. "We hope that th know that it has the intensity that it her parents and relative are going lighting across campus, expanding the community. Students came together to sumed at most colleges," Avasthi said. experiences of the past week show on had last year. For those who experi- through. I always keep that first in my key card access system to more acade- support each other, and a greater Student concerns over the new continued commitment to service an enced that time period, it left an indeli- mind," Adams said. mic buildings, decreasing the number awareness of safety was fostered," changes included the inability to cus- value. We Welcome student comment ble mark. I know many people think of Johnson echoed those sentiments. of entrances into the parking-lots from Father Tracy said. • - tomize their wraps and sandwiches as and suggestions all the time." > Goldfarb Adams, Welch and Cai address several Center Studs Terkel to reGei ve issues in annual State of the College welcomes new Welch and Cai's in itiatives this year campus. "The annual diversity confer 2004 Lovejoy Award By KATIE FULLER FEATURES EDITOR are plans to create a "more empow- ence is often plugged as a huge com staff, changes ered student body." They included mitrrient and gets the campus talking By KATIE FULLER By KATIE HAMM Terkel Program", which was aired in continuance of the collegiate reader- but we hope that we can do thing: FEATURES EDITOR EDITOR IN CHIEF Chicago from 1952 to 1997, Terkel This past Tuesday, the State of the ship program, a new discussion and beyond this," Cai said. Cai spoke o interviewed Chicago natives and College Address was held in the Spa. debate series to bring digest squabbles the Dialogue housing proposal as ai The Goldfarb Center for Public Louis "Studs" Terkel will receive national and international figures who The address, given by President out into the open, the fifth annual example of Colby students takinj Affairs and Civic Engagement wel- this year 's Lovejoy Award forhis con- made contributions to the nation in the William D. Adams along with SGA diversity conference, and continued action on diversity issues. "We mak« comes new faces and an updated tributions to journalism throughout twentieth century. President and Vice-President Cat examination of Dial ogue housing pro- this campus what we want it to be anc service learning initiative this year. the years. "Over the years there have been a Welch '05 and Adelin Cai '05 posals. "We want to provide students need to work collectively for ideals a The Center, launched last fall , . Terkel, 92, is known for his books couple of ways people have earned the addressed a number of issues , includ- with the resources (o make change," Colby," Cai said. Welch and Cai als« serves to "foster faculty and student on working, the middle class in the Lovejoy award, one of those being ing the Colby Green projects , diversi- Welch said.