October 21, 2005

Walk/run honors slain resident assistant

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue will observe Red Ribbon Week with a series of events, including the annual Jay Severson Memorial Walk/Run.

The race begins at 10 a.m. Sunday (Oct. 30) on the southwest side of Wiley Hall on Intramural Drive. It honors Severson, a graduate student and Wiley Hall counselor, who was killed by another student in 1996 after he found drugs in the student's residence hall room.

"Jay Severson wanted very much to help the students who lived in Wiley Hall and help make life better for them," said Wiley Hall residential life manager Denton Sederquist, who organized the event. "Money raised from this race is used to help students battling substance addiction and adds to his lasting legacy."

The event is held in conjunction with Purdue's recognition of Red Ribbon Week, a series of events to raise awareness of alcohol and drug abuse. In addition to the walk/run, University Residences will sponsor a talk by former police officer and White House adviser Paul Chabot 7 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 26) in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse. Chabot's talk will focus on his own fight against drug addiction and his efforts to educate young people about the dangers of drugs.

In addition, the Residence Hall Association will hold a dance from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday (Oct. 29) in the Purdue Memorial Union to offer a substance-free alternative event for students.

Entry fee for the race is $10, with all proceeds to benefit the Jay Severson Memorial Fund, which provides money for education, training and counseling for the prevention of drug abuse.

Pre-registration for the race before Oct. 25 will guarantee the participant a T-shirt, but walk-up registration will also be available until 9:30 a.m. on race day.

The event, sponsored by University Residences, will start and end in front of Wiley Hall, 500 N. Intramural Drive. Streets will remain open to vehicle traffic throughout the race.

Entry forms are available at any residence hall front office or online.

Those who do not wish to participate in the race but who would like to contribute to the fund can send checks to 500 N. Intramural Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47906. Make checks payable to the Purdue Foundation, with Jay Severson Memorial Fund written on the memo line.

For information, contact Sederquist, (765) 494-2174, sederquist@purdue.edu.

Writer: Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2-73, mholsapple@purdue.edu

Source: Denton Sederquist, (765) 494-2174, mholsapple@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Related Web sites:
Purdue University Home Page

To the News Service home page