MORE ABOUT MATTHEW SHEPARD
2. Statement from Associated Students of the University of Wyoming
3. BRANDING IRON (University of Wyoming) Four suspects charged in attempted
murder case
4. BRANDING IRON Dubois speaks on Shepard attack
5. BRANDING IRON Friends dispute Shepard's openness on sexuality
6. BRANDING IRON Campus reaction to Shepard hate crime strong
7. BRANDING IRON Student reaction sparks petition for hate-crimes law
8. BRANDING IRON Organization’s president still plans Gay Awareness week
9. BRANDING IRON Media storms UW campus
STATEMENT FROM PHILIP DUBOIS, October 9, 1998
We are shocked and saddened by the assault upon one of our students. The
nature of this incident is abhorrent and is not reflective of the values of
our University population or the Laramie community. Our first concern is with
Matthew's family, and of course we will extend to them whatever support and
assistance we can offer to help them deal with this terrible situation.
Although this deplorable incident happened off campus and apparently has
nothing to do with the fact that Matthew is a student, we know that the entire
campus community is concerned for his welfare and the well-being of his
family.
We at UW will, of course, extend to law enforcement personnel whatever
support and assistance we can offer.
Again, our main concern right now is for Matthew and his family, and our
prayers go out to them.
Associated Students of the University of Wyoming, October 9, 1998
We, the members of the Associated Students of the University of Wyoming,
and the entire student population, are deeply saddened whenever one of our
fellow classmates is involved in a tragedy such as this which has occurred to
Matthew Shepard.
Of course, our main concern is with Matthew's family and we will help
them in whatever support and assistance we can offer to help them cope with
this terrible situation.
We do not believe that this incident is reflective of the behavior of our
UW population or of the citizens of Laramie. UW students are always concerned
when one of our own students is victimized in any way. Our prayers and
thoughts go out to Matthew and his family.
Here is a list of events planned in the wake of this tragedy:
St. Paul's Newman Center, located at 19th & Grand, is holding a vigil at
7:00 PM on the front lawn of the Center.
There will be a moment of silence at the Homecoming Sing and Football
Game.
Anyone is encouraged to march in the Homecoming Parade in support of
Matthew and his family.
The United Multicultural Center is making armbands in support of Matthew
and his family.
If you have further comments or suggestions, send us your thoughts.
Branding Iron, October 9, 1998
The Albany County courthouse was packed when three of the four suspects
were arraigned Oct. 9 in connection with the attempted murder of a UW student
in an apparent hate crime attack.
Since the Oct. 8 press conference a fourth suspect has been arrested.
Charges were officially filed against Russell Arthur Henderson, 21,
Chastity Vera Pasley, 20, and Aaron James McKinney, 22. Henderson and
McKinney, the most recently apprehended, have been charged with three felony
counts of kidnapping, aggravated robbery and attempted first degree murder of
Matthew Shepard, and Pasley and Kristen Leann Price have been charged with
accessory after the fact to attempted first degree murder.
Shepard and Pasley are both UW students.
Albany County Judge Robert Castor read the list of charges which include
attempted first degree murder.
Reading from court documents, Castor said Shepard was "struck in the head
with a pistol," and the suspects allegedly "beat him, while he begged for his
life."
Walt Boulden, a friend of Shepard, said after the Oct. 8 press
conference, "My understanding was that the perpetrators led him to believe
they were gay, and he said that he was."
Jim D. Osborn, the adviser of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-gender
Association (LGBTA), said, "It was a hate crime, he was beaten for no other
reason than he was gay."
Albany County Sheriff Gary Puls said Shepard was found by two bicyclists
on Snowy Mountain View Road Oct. 7 at 6:22 p.m., hanging from a buck fence,
beaten and unconscious.
Shepard is unconscious and in critical condition at Poudre Valley
Hospital in Fort Collins, Colo.
A release from Poudre Valley Hospital said Shepard remains on a
ventilator.
"If [Shepard] does pass away it will be first degree murder," Puls said
Oct. 8.
A credit card and patten-leather [sic] shoes, which belonged to Shepard,
were found in a pick-up along with the a .357 magnum covered with blood. The
pick-up belonged to McKinney's father. Shepard's wallet was also found hidden
in McKinney's house, according to court documents Castor read.
Henderson and McKinney both could face life in prison for the attempted
murder, 20 years to life in prison for kidnapping and five to 25 years for
aggravated robbery. If Shepard were to die, the suspects could be given life
in prison or the death penalty if convicted of murder in the first degree.
Pasley's bond was set at $30,000, and Henderson and McKinney's bonds have
been set at $100,000 each.
Henderson and McKinney will appear in court Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. for a
preliminary hearing, and Pasley, who waived her arraignment, will appear in
court Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. No comment was given in regard to the conditions of
Price's legal position.
Osbourn said the "incident comes as a great shock," LGBTA is continuing
the next week's Gay Awareness Week activities.
"I do not want to turn Matt into a martyr," he said. "I respect him too
much for that."
Branding Iron, October 9, 1998
Throughout the nation, people are shocked and outraged by the recent hate
crimes against Matthew Shepard. On the University of Wyoming campus, students
and faculty walked around slightly preoccupied on Friday. They were followed
by television cameras from all over the country.
"As a father, I was most saddened," UW President Philip Dubois said in a
press conference Friday. "We are always concerned about the safety of our
children."
Dubois also said there are no similar attacks on record.
The response of the rest of the university community has been intense.
At the same press conference, Jim D. Osborn, President of the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Trans-Gendered Association (LGBTA), gave a speech expressing
concerns about Shepard's well-being and the great loss felt by the group. A
friend of Shepard's who requested anonymity said that Shepard embraced love
and peace. Several people in the crowd cried, and a few women carried "no
hate" signs throughout the conference.
University programs extolling sensitivity and diversity are in the works.
Shepard was a first-semester political science major, having previously
attended Casper College. Pasley was a second-year freshman majoring in art.
None of the other accused were students.
Dubois said, "There was nothing the school could have or should have
done," to prevent this crime.
"(The crime was) not reflective of the values of our university
population or the Laramie community... Our first concern is with Matthew's
family."
Branding Iron, October 9, 1998
The media's portrayal of UW student Matt Shepard as being openly gay is
simply not accurate as far as his long-time friend Walter Boulden is
concerned.
Shepard, a 22-year-old UW student, is on life support at Poudre Valley
Hospital, after attackers left him beaten and tied spread eagle to a buck
fence outside of Laramie City limits in an apparent hate crime.
"Matt wasn't openly gay," Boulden said. "He didn't tell people in his
class he was gay. He was the kind of guy who would just walk into a room and
people would think he was gay just because he was slightly built, rather
feminine."
Although he wasn't open about his sexuality, Boulden said, "He certainly
didn't try to hide it if somebody asked him directly."
Shepard had been to the Fireside Lounge in Laramie on the night of the
incident. Suspects Russell Hendersen and Aaron McKinney apparently led Shepard
to believe they were gay, and Shepard said he was as well. The two allegedly
persuaded Shepard to leave with them in their car.
"I didn't notice any confrontation, and there wasn't enough people to not
notice," said Matt Galloway, bartender at the Fireside the night of the
incident.
But Boulden said Shepard was "not the kind of person who goes to bars and
tries to pick people up. Matt absolutely did not do one night stands 'cause of
this stuff.
"He likes meeting other gay people, so he could talk about the experience
and the struggle," Boulden said.
"Matt is an incredible human being," said Jim D. Osborn, president of the
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Association. "He smiles every time
you see him. I've never seen him without a smile on his face. He can lighten
your day in two minutes."
Shepard, born and raised in Casper, Wyo., attended Natrona County High
School, until his sophomore year, when his parents moved to Saudi Arabia
because of his father's employment with an oil company. He finished his high
school career in Switzerland and spent time on the East coast and in Denver
before deciding to attend University of Wyoming.
"Just last week he was talking about how glad he was that he had made the
decision he made, that he was incredibly comfortable here, felt safe for the
first time," Boulden said.
Shepard's parents knew of his sexual orientation, but "I don't know how
accepting they are of it, and I think that's been an issue between them, and I
think it's something they're really going to struggle with," Boulden said.
Shepard's parents were in Saudi Arabia at the time of the attack and are
expected to arrive in Colorado tonight.
Branding Iron (University of Wyoming student newspaper), Laramie, Wyo.,
An attack that took place in Laramie this week leave many to wonder if
hate crimes still exist. Matt Shepard, a 22-year-old University of Wyoming
student was found beaten into a coma and left tied to a fence to die. He
remains in the hospital in critical condition. The brutal crime leaves the
campus and community shocked and appalled.
"You think growing up in Wyoming you're immune," said Jennifer Zakotnik,
a UW junior. "You know you're not going to be affected by things like this,
but you are."
Others are less surprised.
"I think in all places, regardless of where you are, hate crimes are
going to exist -- even in Wyoming," said Kris Williams, a junior. "It's
unfortunate, and we're not even sheltered by that. Hopefully it'll force the
students to take a strong look at each other, a strong look at where they
stand on a lot of things, what they represent and really open up some issues
on what the students of the University of Wyoming feel. Sometimes we are not
the most politically active school."
Ryan McCoy, a senior, agrees. "It's not all that surprising because hate
is everywhere. Attempted murder is pretty good to get them on, but that's
disgusting."
Although not surprised, many students are saddened and frightened by the
attack.
Tracee Wagner, a senior, said, "I was in theater with him (in high
school) and he always had a very broad outlook on everything. The whole thing
is ridiculous."
"It could happen to anyone," said Dan Woolcott, a senior. "I could be
accused of being (gay) and beaten to death."
"We are deeply saddened when one of our students is involved in something
like this," said Stephanie Olson, vice-president of the Associated Students of
the University of Wyoming.
Additional reporting done by Shannon Rexroat, Branding Iron editor-in-
chief.
Branding Iron, October 9, 1998
Less than two days after Matthew Shephard, a 22-year-old political
science major was found brutally beaten and tied to a fence, response in the
Laramie area has been resounding.
A petition was composed asking Governor Jim Geringer, State Senate
Judiciary Chairman April Brimmer Kuntz, and State Representative Kathryn
Sessions to form a commission to investigate the beating of Shephard and to
take legislative steps to secure a passage of a new Wyoming state law to deter
such hate crimes in the future.
Those wishing to sign the petition via the Internet can go to
http://www.e-thepeople.com and find the petition in the "Civil Rights and
Minority Issues" category. The service hosting the petition, E-the People,
also allows the send the petition to 10 friends and acquaintances.
A gathering to show support for the beating and to gain community
awareness will be held during the homecoming parade. Organized by Carlie
Laucomer, helpers are calling people and hoping it will snowball in order to
gain more than 100 supporters. The gathering will meet in Prexie's Pasture at
8 p.m., and will begin their parade route at 8:30 at 15th and Willet streets.
"We want to make the community realize that there are people out there
who do care and are mad about what happened because it was a hate crime
because he was gay," Laucomer said.
Branding Iron, October 9, 1998
Though the brutal attack on UW student Matthew Shepard has put a damper
on next week's Gay Awareness Week, Jim D. Osborn, 23, president of the
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-gendered Association, said all events are
still scheduled.
"At this point we are planning to continue our activities," Osborn said.
"We are looking into the possibility of a vigil later in the week. Whether or
not that will happen this week, nothing is set in stone.
"The timing could not have been any more awkward," Osborn said.
Osborn said he received support from the university and the community, as
well as on a national level. Despite the first reaction of fear felt by LGBTA
members, the group has now developed feelings of anger and disgust, as well as
the urge for awareness. "There seems to be a definite impetus in the community
and the university right now that this needs to be addressed. This is not
something that can be ignored or pushed under the rug," Osborn said.
Even though the attack falls on the horizon of Gay Awareness week, Osborn
said he would like to believe the incident is purely coincidental but could
not be sure. "I certainly cannot get in the mind of the assailants," he said.
"I think it's probably an isolated incident," Osborn said. "It is not the
first assault that has occurred in Laramie, unfortunately. I do not believe
that it will be the last simply because this happens no matter where you are."
Branding Iron, October 9, 1998
The recent assault of Matthew Shepard has startled attention in the
national media.
Jim Kearns, manager for the University of Wyoming News Service, said they
have been "dealing with the universities' response to this." He also said the
news service has been contacted by all the major television networks, various
news magazines and some of the television news magazines.
Kearns said that most news services were calling to confirm the
identities of the suspects and the victim, as well as their affiliation to
campus, if any.
Natalia Devan with K-2 in Cheyenne, an NBC affiliate covering the story,
said of the incident, "It's probably one of the bigger stories not because
someone got hurt but because it's a hate crime."
In the past 24 hours the story has made news throughout the country.
"People in Denver heard about it this morning and [there are] just shock
waves through Denver," said Irene O'Connor, a reporter with WB-2 News in
Denver. "We came up to cover it because it's something people in Denver are
concerned about. They care about it."
"It's student involved and the interest is the gay connection," said Ed
Andrieski, a photographer with the Denver Office of the Associated Press,
about the interest in the story. "Everybody in the world is interested. It
seems slow in the news world it seems like and people want other things in
their newspaper beside Clinton."
Return to The Skeptic Tank's main Index page.
1. Statement from University of Wyoming President
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING PRESIDENT
http://www.uwyo.edu/om/unirel/htm/pulse/news/statemnt.htm
http://marshal.uwyo.edu/asuw/tragedy.htm
Our Reaction to the Matthew Shepard Tragedy
(University of Wyoming student newspaper), Laramie, WY
http://bi.uwyo.edu/
Lead story of 7 in special report
Web page displays color picture of Matthew Shepard
Four suspects charged in attempted murder case
By Jay O'Brien, BI correspondent
http://bi.uwyo.edu
Dubois speaks on Shepard attack
By Sarah Jordan, BI correspondent
http://bi.uwyo.edu
Friends dispute Shepard's openness on sexuality
By Eric Rohr, BI staff writer
Oct. 9, 1998
http://bi.uwyo.edu
Campus reaction to Shepard hate crime strong
By Lara Azar, Branding Iron correspondent
http://bi.uwyo.edu
Student reaction sparks petition
By Eric Jordan, BI Staff Writer
http://bi.uwyo.edu
Organization’s president still plans Gay Awareness week
By Eric Rohr, BI Staff writer
http://bi.uwyo.edu
Media storms UW campus
By Julie A. Corzine, BI Correspondent
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