Sources: Carla Jones, 785-532-6432 cjones@k-state.edu;
Mary Todd, 785-532-6444, mtodd@k-state.edu; and Susan Allen,
785-532-6444, slallen@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Andy Badeker, 785-532-6415, abadeker@k-state.edu
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
MARY TODD NAMED DIRECTOR OF K-STATE WOMEN'S CENTER; SUSAN ALLEN TO BE DIRECTOR OF NONVIOLENCE EDUCATION
MANHATTAN -- Mary Todd has become director of the Women's Center at Kansas State University. Formerly the center's assistant director and a crisis advocate for the past five years, Todd takes the job over from Susan Allen, who has been named director of nonviolence education for the university.
Todd, a K-State graduate, coordinates the response to victims and oversees the center's programs and services. Allen, director of the Women's Center since 1996, will work with members of the campus and Manhattan communities on nonviolence issues. She also will organize the Community Campaign for Nonviolence from an office in the UFM House.
"We continue helping those who have been harmed by violence," Allen said. "Sexual assault and crisis response is our traditional role, but we can't stop there. Our larger goal is to help prevent violence, in part by creating the expectation for a nonviolent campus culture and in part by teaching the skills and strategies of nonviolence."
The K-State Women's Center staff works with crime victims, rape survivors and any individual who has a friend, family member or loved one going through the trauma of sexual violence.
The nonviolence education component sponsors programs such as the Season for Nonviolence, noontime yoga, Movies on the Grass and Empty Bowls. It also provides speakers and classes.
The Campaign for Nonviolence, which began as an affiliation of campus citizens and now is also a presidential committee, supports numerous programs originally organized through the Women's Center. In addition, the university approved an academic nonviolence studies certificate program in June.
"It is a great comfort to advocates and those involved in the safety of students to know that there are others working for a deeper cultural move toward nonviolence on the campus," Todd said. "Susan's lasting contribution to the Women's Center and to K-State has been to implement what we know about violence prevention--that a culture based on nonviolent principles is the only way to reduce violence in the long term."
Some changes are in the works for the center, Todd said, including late-night hours a couple of times a week. "Staying open after hours is one way we'd like to be available to busy students."
At the center, awareness about the prevalence of violence, along with prevention and culture change, are discussed in individual and group meetings.
"But we also want to increase our focus on enhancing personal health," Todd said, "and on providing a place for all students to come and find others to discuss relationships, personal goals, and ways to enrich our campus community."
Among ongoing programs is SafeZone, which trains volunteers on campus and across Manhattan to help community members experiencing conflict that could lead to violence. Last year, the center trained volunteers at Manhattan High School, which has begun a SafeZone program of its own.
"We coordinate projects, but they are volunteer-driven," Allen said. "We rely on campus and community citizens to step up and 'be the change they wish to see in the world,' as Mahatma Gandhi urged."
Todd has a bachelor's degree from K-State and a master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of South Florida. She has worked at K-State for seven years.
Allen has a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University, a master's in journalism and mass communications anthropology from K-State, and a doctorate in media anthropology from the University of Kansas. She has been at K-State for 26 years.