Morgan milestone: UVA, Harringtons to unveil plaque on sad anniversary
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The shrine to Morgan Harrington on the Copeley Bridge (pictured here during a July birthday gathering for Morgan) was removed on October 4 to make way for a permanent plaque, which will be dedicated on October 17, the one year anniversary of her disappearance.FILE PHOTO BY COURTENEY STUART
Christmas. Her 21st birthday. The beginning of a new school year. Over the past 12 months, Dan and Gil Harrington have marked one milestone after another without their daughter, Morgan, who disappeared after attending a Metallica concert last fall and whose remains were discovered on a remote corner of an Albemarle County farm in January. On October 17, the Harringtons will mark another grim milestone: the one year anniversary of Morgan’s disappearance.
As they have done frequently over the past year, the Harringtons will visit the Copeley Road bridge— the place Morgan was last seen alive— where a shrine grew to cover most of the southeast corner of the bridge with mementos, messages, and banners dedicated to Morgan. But while on previous visits the Harringtons have stood alone, speaking to supporters and members of the media, this time they will be accompanied by representatives of the university for a dedication of a permanent plaque that will take the place of the multi-colored memorial, whose array of photos, candles, flowers, and other mementos were packed up and sent to the Harringtons on October 4.
“Morgan’s disappearance, the hopeful search and later the heartbreaking discovery of her remains had an enormous effect on the University community,” said Patricia Lampkin, UVA’s vice president and chief student affairs officer, in a released statement about the event. Although there seemed to be a break in the case in July, when police announced that DNA evidence linked Morgan’s killing with a 2005 assault in Fairfax, there have been no significant developments announced since then.
There have, however, been positive developments at the UVA, says Gil Harrington, who says she perceives greater transparency and a stronger focus on safety– both of which she attributes to new President Teresa Sullivan.
“There’s most definitely a change,” she says. “I tell people that some of the things that we have done are measurable,” she says, mentioning the construction of a school in Zambia in Morgan’s honor and a scholarship fund in Morgan’s name at the new Carilion Medical School in Roanoke.
“To shift the culture is an abstract and subtle thing,” she says. “It’s like moving an ocean liner; it takes a while.” At UVA, Harrington believes, “the ship has moved by several degrees.”
That movement, she says, is illustrated by several things, including the recent “Day of Dialogue: Toward a more caring community,” and a new safety program for first year students. “It’s about personal safety, looking out for each other, being a community, not being separate things rotating in a similar orbit,” says Harrington.
Even the recent rash of reported crimes against UVA students, including several alleged sexual assaults and robberies, is a good sign in its own way, says Harrington.
“I think that what appeared to be an uptick in incidents of assaults is really a different way of recording them and acknowledging them,” she says.
UVA spokesperson Carol Wood has not yet responded to the Hook’s request for comment on these apparent Sullivan-driven changes.
On a personal note, Harrington says, Sullivan contacted her and Dan “within the first two to three weeks of her being here,” and the Harringtons had an in-person meeting with both the President and VP Lampkin to discuss their concerns.
“They have been most respectful and collegial,” Harrington says of UVA administrators.
Both Harringtons will speak at the anniversary event, which begins at 2pm with a speech by UVA Executive Vice President and Provost Arthur Garson and the unveiling of the plaque, which will bear Morgan’s name, her year of birth and death, and the brief message: “A student at our sister institution, Virginia Tech, Ms. Harrington was last seen alive on this bridge on October 17, 2009.
After the closing dedication, the event will move to the Newcomb Hall Theatre for a screening of A Gift for the Village, a documentary about Virginia Tech artist and professor Jane Vance, who taught Morgan and who was chosen to paint an eminent Tibetan healer as part of a soon-to-be extinct tradition. Vance dedicated the film to Morgan, who appears briefly. A reception will follow the screening in the Newcomb Hall lobby at 4pm.
–Story updated Friday, October 15 at noon. (Harrington’s comments on UVA’s increased transparency)
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While all of the dedications are being made to Morgan, is anyone using the opportunity to better educate our children on safe ways to minimize their chances of becoming victims?
My bet is no. Someone please prove me wrong.
Cue the blinky crazies
I still keep hoping the next article about Morgan I read will be announcing the capture of the loser who did this.
Lis: I agree, but with new leads and increased staff we may not read much. VSP is keeping the steady course. If they released information that was previously deemed important to the investigation it would seem that they have nothing. My instincts and interactions lead to believe the case is more than just warm.
Lets hope that someone now feels comfortable enough to come foward. Time is on VSP’s side. Another change of seasons, and the reality of what happened just may make this a good time to for others to reflect and come forward. Gil was spectacular today!
It has been a good week!
I am sorry for the loss of the Harringtons. but where is the recognition of the others that have gone missing sinse? anyone ever hear of them? i feel all this hype over harrington covers over the horrible loss of others. abduction is still happening in our area and nobody has them on the news more than one notice. i do not see the point in using the horrible act that took morgan as publicity only for her .. the time and money should be used to publisize the ones that are missing to help other families as john walsh did for his son adam walsh after his horrid murder.
Old Timer,
Where have you been? The Harringtons are doing much to promote safety for other women. They have been speaking at U. Va and I think traveled to Washington to speak on this subject.
Confused,
Morgan’s parents are responsible for this so called “hype” as you so disrespectfully called it. The parents of the the others that are missing apparently have not done so. You should ask them why not.
Why is a memorial being installed on a public bridge to this sad, lost girl?
I can see the Harrington’s motivation in wanting to keep the story alive to aid in the cpature of a killer, but a memorial plaque?
There are far many other people in the Charlottesville community who deserve to be memorialized for their accomplishments?
This is a horrific and tragic story, to be sure, but some of it boils down to a young woman who made some very bad decisions in rapid succession.
EH?,
Is this memorial is going to hurt or effect you how? What have you done to memorial these others that deserve to be memorialized?
Let me guess, you have never been guilty of this…..
“who made some very bad decisions in rapid succession.”
Some of you are major brats and I refuse to spend anymore energy on you. God bless the Harringtons!
So long. Never forget…Karma bites back!
“and I refuse to spend anymore energy on you.”
Oh? When does this great news finally take effect?
People who disagree with you are brats? If a plaque makes you happy, bully for you. Get over yourself, little miss. You can start by untwisting your undergarments so you’ll be more comfortable.
Ceremonies like this are deemed essential to keep pressure on investigators to solve the case.
People who put themselves in at-risk situations for no real reason (such as deciding to walk home — to another city — after wandering out of a concert before it has begun) run the very real risk of getting hurt.
Perhaps that is what should be memorialized so other people might think twice before making a series of decisions in an impaired state of mind that terminate in tragedy.
Perhaps she should have trusted a state cop instead?
Jeff, the fallacy of your question is the assumption that anyone can be trusted.
Perhaps the issue of underage drinking has never been properly addressed by the Harringtons. Had the law been properly enforced and obeyed by the sellers and/or providers and Morgan, she may have had more wits about her to avoid a bad situation altogether. Believe me, I know how drinking has affected my judgment in past incidences so I’m not being hypocritical and I understand their grief. We here have a woman missing here in Orange now and where has been their public outcry or demanding of notices and display public monuments?
Morgan’s parents are responsible for this so called “hype” as you so disrespectfully called it. The parents of the the others that are missing apparently have not done so. You should ask them why not.
***
Are you suggesting that every parent of a missing/killed young person can and should enlist the aid of a public relations firm? And promote the case on every TV crime show that will have them?
“Are you suggesting that every parent of a missing/killed young person can and should enlist the aid of a public relations firm? And promote the case on every TV crime show that will have them?”
If that is what it takes to catch her killer and make other women safer, YES, by all means!!!
“If that is what it takes to catch her killer and make other women safer, YES, by all means!!!”
‘Other women’ have better sense than to attempt a 140-mile trek at night, alone and on foot. Or to get in a vehicle with someone they do not know well. Or to get blitzed on unknown substances and leave a venue.
The reason cases like this get so much attention is because they are rare. There was a confluence of events on Oct. 17, 2009 compounded systematically by bad jusgment that caused this sad situation outside a concert at JPJ.
To argue that hiring PR firms and filling up the airways with the story of one young women who made mutliple bad mistakes is just silly. Women will be no “safer” before or after this girl was killed. Personal responsibility and common sense are the first steps to living a “safer” life.
Oh, when you add three exclamation marks at the end of your sentence, do you really believe that makes you sound 300 percent louder?
“deciding to walk home — to another city — after wandering out of a concert before it has begun…”
I just don’t think this is what happened. Nothing about what went on with Morgan has ever made any sense, from the supposed timeline of events, to her motivations, to her friends’ behavior, to where her body wound up. None of it makes sense. It’s such a crazy story. I think people shouldn’t be so quick to make the above quote the official version of what transpired. Nobody knows what really happened or what Morgan did or didn’t do, and why, except for Morgan and her killer. But, that’s just my opinion.
“Oh, when you add three exclamation marks at the end of your sentence, do you really believe that makes you sound 300 percent louder?”
Apparently so, made you notice enough to comment, did’nt it?
“Apparently so, made you notice enough to comment, did’nt it?”
To the extent I was commenting on your ignorance, yes, I suppose so.
And so much for your self-proclaimed vow to shaddup and go away:
“I refuse to spend anymore energy on you.”
Those are your exact words.
Good luck with your shrill crusade. Windmills are scarce around Charlottesville so you may have difficulty finding anything to joust with.
That’s all. I’m done with ya.
booo, people do know what Morgan did. There were many eyewitnesses to her behavior after she left the concert. She was last seen on the bridge and then found at the farm. And the behavior of her friends makes sense from their perspective and based on their relationship with Morgan and her prior behavior, behavior which also explains why the police were slow to investigate this as a missing persons case.
The reason it all doesn’t make sense to you is because you don’t know all the facts as they have not been released publicly out of respect for Morgan’s family.
“Good luck with your shrill crusade. Windmills are scarce around Charlottesville so you may have difficulty finding anything to joust with.”
I am 8 hours away from Charlottesville. Thank God!!!! (notice 4 this time. WOW). I never knew Virginia was such a hateful state!
“I am 8 hours away from Charlottesville. Thank God!!!!”
Indeed. Thank God.
“Indeed. Thank God.”
Those are your exact words. Seems like you don’t know when to shaddup either!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To some of the others in Virginia, I apologize, I should not have dissed on your state like that. There are DB’s everywhere!
You are the simpleton who promises, then refuses, to go away.
Still waiting for you to keep your promise, Kelly. There are bound to be other forums elsewhere on the Internet that would benefit from your (unintentional?) hilarity.
How’s the weather in West Virginia this morning?
just another reminder of how inept and incompetent the people, the law enforcement, the university and the state of Virginia are … so sad.
R.I.P. Morgan.
It is my hope that this plaque will remind students and UVa visitors that once in awhile this community , like all others , attracts predators. Everyone needs to protect themselves by staying with friends at events,staying sober in public, etc.
Kelly,
See, you are why the whole Morgan harrington thing has become offensive to so many people; you belittle anyone who might ask hard, if not self-gratifying questions.
Where have I been? Right here in the area fighting other fights. I have been reading the Hook, DP, and other news sources. All I ever hear about is the continued wailings and beating of breasts over a young woman whose fate can teach people many things beyond pretty plaques and piles of rocks.
Anytime someone suggests that better choices can be made, the flaming begins from the Morgan cult.
While it is true that the Harringtons have worked to keep Morgan in the limelight, I think saying other parents aren’t out there trying to do things for their daughters is in poor taste. The implication that somehow they are failing because they are not attention seekers like the Harringtons is poor play on your part. If doing this is important for the Harringtons that’s fine, but don’t condemn others.
Dearest Morgan,
Because this happened to you, I will never bring children into this evil world. God bless you and yours. We love you, where ever you are.