WMU HOME > ABOUT WMU > WMU NEWS Hate-crime victim's mother speaks out Sept. 13, 2004 KALAMAZOO--The mother of slain hate-crime victim Matthew Shepard, will talk about what people can do to make their communities safer from hate crimes in a presentation Wednesday Sept. 22, at 8 p.m. in the Dalton Center Recital Hall at Western Michigan University. Judy Shepard will speak about "The Legacy of Matthew Shepard: An End to Hate Crime." A reception for Shepard will immediately follow her talk. Both the talk and reception are free and open to the public. Matthew Shepard was a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. On the night of Oct. 6, 1998, he was kidnapped, robbed and savagely beaten because he was gay. He died six days later as the result of injuries sustained in the brutal attack. Since then, his mother has spoken to audiences across the country about what individuals can do to make their schools and communities safer for everyone. Judy Sheppard's presentation was funded by the WMU Campus Activities Board and sponsored by OUTspoken, WMU's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and ally student organization. The lecture is among the Peace Week events Sept. 21-24 at WMU. For more information about Sheppard's presentation, contact OUTspoken's advisor, Kathy Mitchell at <kathy.mitchell@wmich.edu>. Related story Peace Week goal is voter education, registration Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 269 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu WMU News Office of University Relations Western Michigan University 1903 W Michigan Ave Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA 269 387-8400 www.wmich.edu/wmu/news