LOCKE GARDEN MEMORIAL TO CELEBRATE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BELOVED PROFESSOR OF COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Within just days of the tragic death of University of Arkansas associate professor John Locke, students under his guidance initiated a fund to establish a garden memorial in his honor. Now, one year later, ground is being broken for the garden with the hopes that Locke’s philosophy and contributions to the University will be remembered and celebrated.

Graduate students in the comparative literature program Peggy Maddox, and Kirsten Day, along with alumnus Noah Shumate were the organizers of the memorial fund.

"The idea for a garden as a memorial to Dr. Locke probably had its origins on the day of his murder as I tried to deal with the horror by using a technique that I had learned from Dr. Locke in one of his classes," Maddox said.

"He once had us go on a shamanic journey, that is, an imaginary walk from our classroom in Kimpel to a wooded spot. I found myself doing that as I milled numbly about with other graduate students in front of Kimpel after we had heard the news. From that grew the idea of a memorial that would be a quiet, comforting, natural setting with the sound of water," Maddox explained.

Located in front of Kimpel Hall, the overall plan for the garden was prepared by Shumate, a recent graduate from the University’s landscape architecture program.

"John Locke will be remembered as one who sought truth, loved students, cared deeply about integrated understanding, and inspired scholarship among his colleagues, friends and students, said Bob Smith, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

"We are most pleased that Professor Locke's colleagues, friends and students have dedicated their efforts to make the garden a reality-for all to remember John Locke for many years to come."

Dean of Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Randall Woods speaks of Locke’s dedication to his students. "Dr. Locke was the kind of teacher who inspired trust and respect among his students and colleagues," Woods said. "His contributions to the College were significant, arising out of years of devotion to his students and to the comparative literature program he directed."

Contributions totaling just over $8,000 have been made thus far toward establishing the garden. However, the fund will be ongoing as the students hope to hope to expand the garden and provide for its permanent maintenance in the years ahead.

"We spent several sessions just talking over our impressions of Dr. Locke in order to come up with an idea that would reflect his personality and philosophy," Maddox said. "The garden was to be simple and symbolic.

"We want to emphasize that this memorial for Dr. Locke is his due -- not because he was murdered in his office -- but because for 33 years he made a remarkable contribution to the University," Maddox said. "He impacted the lives of hundreds of students, not just the graduate students who were a part of his program, but numerous undergraduates who had him for only one course and yet never forgot him. He had a way of opening one's mind to the possibilities, the mystery of life."

At about noon on Monday, Aug. 28, 2000, former graduate student James Kelly, who had been dismissed from the doctoral program in comparative literature after years of unsatisfactory progress at the University, entered the Kimpel Hall office of his former adviser, John Locke. After locking the door, Kelly shot Locke three times and later turned the gun on himself.

Locke joined the University of Arkansas in 1967 as an Instructor of English and comparative literature. In 1973 he was promoted to assistant professor of English and comparative literature and promoted again in 1981 to associate professor.

Dr. Locke, among an extensive list of educational accomplishments, received his Bachelors of English from the University of Virginia in 1960. He received his Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa in 1962. Also, he held a Masters and Ph.D. of Comparative Literature from the University of Iowa, 1969 and 1973 respectively.

Dr. Locke began his teaching career in 1961 at Culver-Stockton College in Canton Mo. He remained there as an assistant professor of English and modern languages until 1964