NEWS
‘Nuns on the Bus’ Organizer to Receive Ivy Young Willis Award Sister Simone Campbell, SSS (Sisters of Social Service), executive director of NETWORK, will receive the Ivy Young Willis Award at Cabrini College on March 13, 2014. A religious leader, attorney, and poet, Campbell has led the NETWORK organization since 2004. NETWORK is a Catholic organization that educates and advocates for economic and social transformation. In Washington, Campbell lobbies on issues of peace-building, immigration reform, healthcare and economic justice. Around the country, she is a noted speaker and educator on these public policy issues. In 2012, Campbell was instrumental in organizing the “Nuns on the Bus” tour of nine states to oppose the “Ryan Budget” approved by the House of Representatives that would have taken away funding for programs meant to help people in need. In May and June 2013, she once again led a “Nuns on the Bus” tour that raised awareness for immigration reform. The tours gained national media attention, and Campbell appeared on “60 Minutes,” “The Colbert Report,” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”
Sister Simone speaks in Langhorne, Pa., during a “Nuns on the Bus” tour in 2012.
The Ivy Young Willis Award recognizes a woman who has made a noteworthy contribution to the civic life of her community—local, regional, national, or international. The award and lecture program began in 1992 through the generosity of William G. Willis (father of Martha Dale, a 30-year employee of Cabrini who passed away in 2012) to honor his late wife. Campbell will receive the award and present a lecture at a 4:30 p.m. ceremony on campus.
Detective Explains Warning Signs at Domestic Violence Symposium At the third annual Domestic Violence Symposium on Oct. 10, Detective Deirdre Fishel emphasized the importance of a community-wide effort to help those affected by domestic violence. Fishel is a 15-year veteran of law enforcement and primary investigator for the State College, Pa., Police Department unit that is responsible for responding to domestic violence and stalking crimes. She narrated the documentary, “Telling Amy’s Story,” which recounts events leading to the death
of Amy Homan-McGee, a 33-year-old mother of two who was killed by her husband in 2001 when she decided to leave him after suffering years of abuse. Those who knew Amy best are also featured in the film, as they share the warning signs they witnessed in Amy’s relationship. “The film resonates with students because Amy is ‘Anybody, USA,’” Fishel said. “She was educated, in the workforce and was a mother. She did not fit the stereotype of domestic violence victims that some people hold.”
After watching the documentary, students had the opportunity to ask Fishel about the case and her other experiences with domestic violence. Faculty members Colleen Lelli, Ed.D., assistant professor of education, Amy Persichetti, Ed.D., instructor of English, and Laura Groves, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of social work, organize the symposium each year. “One in four women report experiencing domestic violence in their lifetime,” Lelli said. “That means each and every person probably knows of someone who has been affected. Therefore, providing people with resources and guiding them to be able to help a friend, coworker or relative is extremely important.” Held annually during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Domestic Violence Symposium at Cabrini College is made possible in part by the Barbara and John Jordan Endowment for Domestic Violence Education. Detective Deirdre Fishel is narrator of the film “Telling Amy’s Story.”
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