Three events at Indiana University South Bend will remember the victims of hate crimes with a candlelight vigil and two talks about a noted violent crime. All events are free and open to the public.

The annual Candlelight Vigil to Remember Victims of Hate Crimes will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, on the Wiekamp Hall courtyard at IU South Bend.

The vigil is sponsored by the IU South Bend’s Gay-Straight Alliance, Campus Diversity and South Bend Equality, a community group that advocates for equal rights for everyone – gay or straight.

Representatives from the community, faiths and the campus will speak about the tragedy of hate and violence.

On the following day, Monday, Oct. 11, the campus will welcome author Beth Loffreda, who is an associate professor at the University of Wyoming. She wrote “Losing Matt Shepard: Life and Politics in the Aftermath of Anti-Gay Murder” following the 1998 kidnapping and beating death of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyo. The book is an analysis of the community – its citizens, politics and culture.

Shepard was gay and was lured from a bar to a remote location. He was found 18 hours later beaten and tied to a fence. He died five days later.

Loffreda will participate in a luncheon discussion from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 11, in the Administration Building cafeteria.

She will have a public lecture at 7 p.m. Oct 11, in Room 1001, Wiekamp Hall. A book signing and reception will follow.

The table talk and lecture are sponsored by the departments of Women’s Studies, Political Science, English and Sociology; Master of Liberal Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Office of Academic Affairs, Campus Diversity, PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), and AIDS Ministries/AIDS Assist of Northern Indiana, Inc.

For further information call Campus Diversity at (574) 520-5535.