THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2014
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Women of Distinction calendar honors achievements
MARIA SANCHEZ
@MariaSanchezKU
On Thursday the 2014-15 KU Women of Distinction were honored before their families, friends and previous winners at the Kansas Union. The calendar with all 27 women featured was also available at the reception.
"Women of Distinction are defined as women who are making a difference through their accomplishments, their involvement, their role as a mentor and a role model, and their overall excellence in their careers," said Kathy Rose-Mockry, executive director of the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity.
Kathy Rose-Mockry, executive director of the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity, says a few words before the calendar reception for KU Women of Distinction begins. The four women on stage with her are Women of Distinction from previous years. From left to right: Ronda Levaldo (2010), Ann Nzuki (2009), Catherine Bell (2004) and Elise Dickens (2004).
MARIA SANCHF7/KANSAN
The Women of Distinction calendar was created almost 11 years ago after a few women expressed their distaste for the Women of KU calendar's presentation of women in swimsuits.
"Women felt it was demeaning to women and in thinking about it, we felt like there was a better way to portray women, to communicate women from a point of strength to challenge some of the inequities that actually exist for women by using this particular medium," Rose-Mocky said.
Rachel Mae Bullock, a senior from Overland Park, was selected as one of the Women of Distinction this year for her involvement with her sorority Delta Delta Delta and GaDuGi, an organization that offers services for victims of sexual assault.
"The values of friendship, self-sacrifice and truth I hold really close to my heart and those are at the core of [Delta Delta Delta]," Bullock said. "I think just finding an outlet for your passion to be ignited and to have people around you who support you has led me to being in this room."
Another woman of distinction, Cynthia Marta from Rantoul, Ill., graduated from the University last spring and was chosen for her work with disability and accessibility.
"It's probably one of the biggest honors I've ever gotten in my life," Marta said. "It's definitely something I never thought would happen, and I feel really honored to have the Women of Distinction title. I think that it's nice to raise awareness for accessibility and disability-related stuff, which is what I was awarded for with my two co-awarders. So, I'm just really excited to have the awareness for that too. Not even just me but the topic itself."
Although Marta said being selected as a woman of distinction raises awareness for issues the women advocate, Bullock also said the honor of being selected comes with a responsibility.
"I think it means where much is given, much is expected," Bullock said. "So while we're celebrating today, it's a call to action more than anything. If people see you and they know you have a stance on certain global, national issues, it's your job to continue to strive to get your community to
where it needs to be."
Mary Fry, associate professor in the Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science, and director of the KU Sport and Exercise Psychology Lab, was also selected as one of the Women of Distinction. Fry was selected for her work with physical activity and sports psychology.
Fry said she thinks the Women of Distinction calendar is much more encouraging.
"I think it's a cool thing that [what] Kathy and everyone that's involved in that is doing to just promote a really positive image of women as being strong and being able to make a positive difference in the world in just so many, so many ways." Fry said.
Fry also said the calendar is a testament of women working for change.
"I think when we look around in the U.S., and we
Looking back, Rose-Mockry said the intention was not to create the calendar
look around the globe, there's still a lot of girls and women that don't have equal rights, and they're not in good situations," Fry said. "The calendar is one small way of highlighting women who are trying to make a difference on the front and trying to mentor women and recognize mentors that have been so key in their life."
for this long.
"I don't know that we knew when we began we'd be able to continue doing it year after year," Rose-Mockry said. "But based on the feedback we got and people's belief that this really does matter, it really makes a difference to portray women in empowered ways, we felt it was important to continue."
- Edited by Emily Brown
Topeka police officer shot, killed at routine car stop
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Topeka police officer was shot and killed Sunday while making a car stop, authorities said.
Shawnee County Sheriff Herman Jones said at a news conference that the officer had stopped a car in east Topeka, and in the middle of the stop the officer was shot. Authorities said the driver then fled.
The sheriff's department said authorities got the call about 4:45 p.m. and responders found the critically wounded officer, who was taken to a hospital. Jones said
the officer was pronounced dead there about 15 minutes later.
Jones identified the officer as Cpl. Jason Harwood, 40, a decorated 15-year veteran who leaves behind a wife and two children. He served in its hit-and-run and canine units before being promoted to corporal in May 2012.
"He loved his job," said interim Police Chief Tony Kirk. "He was a dedicated law enforcement officer. We're going to miss him."
The sheriff's office said a 30-year-old male suspect was taken into custody without incident around 8 p.m. in Lawrence, about 20 miles to the east. Jones said authorities are still investigating whether there were more people in the car.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt issued a statement calling the officer's death an "unspeakable loss."
The sheriff's office typically investigates killings of Topeka police officers. In December 2012, two Topeka officers were fatally shot as they investigated reported drug activity in the parking lot of a Topeka grocery store. The suspect was later shot and killed after a standoff with authorities.
A week from today is your last chance to drop a class without a "W" appearing on your transcript.