Professor Amy Quinn’s investigative reporting class is publishing its work about the life and death of Donnie Farrell, a former Rowan student, on Dec. 15.

“The class has completed reporting,” Quinn said. “We are eager to share our work with everybody.”

The class spent the entire semester interviewing, investigating and writing about Farrell and his case. Each class member worked on different aspects of Farrell’s story and made sure his whole story was told.

“It was difficult reaching out to everybody,” said senior journalism major Damian Biniek. “One of the biggest challenges was getting potential people to talk to.”

Despite any setbacks, the class interviewed over a dozen people, including witnesses and investigators.

“We will be able to report details that have never been reported before,” Quinn said.

Students involved in the project gained knowledge about what to expect when they enter the journalism field.

“I really think it was a positive learning experience,” Biniek said. “This class was a practical and realistic project and was the closest thing to a newsroom at Rowan.”

The work will include stories about the investigation itself, Farrell as a person and the donation of Farrell’s organs. The idea is for the project to give a full picture of Farrell before, during and after his tragic death.

“The project gives an education of what happened,” Biniek said.

With cooperation from friends and family members of Farrell, the class wrote about his life and how his death impacted those who knew him.

“We want to show what Donnie was,” Biniek said.

Many students on campus now did not attend Rowan during the murder. This project can inform them about Farrell and bring more depth to the case for students who are unfamiliar with the case.

Also, with the investigation ongoing, the class desires to help investigators in any way.

“We hope the project is going to be compelling enough for someone to come forward,” Quinn said. The class awaits the publishing of the Donnie Farrell Project so the public can see what they have been working on for months.

The sites will remain active after the semester concludes. The community can post or receive new information through the various social media outlets.

The class’s work can be found on their Twitter account (@DonnieProject), Facebook page and website (thedonniefarrellproject.com). Currently, the website is a “test site” and will include the published work of the class next Thursday. The class also has an email address (thedonnieproject@gmail.com) that can be used to provide information about Farrell or his case.

As police have reported, it is believed that Farrell was walking with friends when a group of men approached and asked for directions to a party. Before friends could react, a few of the group members attacked Farrell, robbed him and left him in the street.

Rowan’s Emergency Medical Services arrived on the scene 90 seconds after the 9-11 phone call and transported Farrell to Cooper Trauma Center in Camden where he died shortly thereafter.

Those responsible for Farrell’s untimely death have never been found or brought to justice.

“There is so much information about the case, yet it led to nothing concrete,” said senior journalism major Daniel Biniek. “It feels as if it should have been solved.”

This violent act affected the Rowan community, creating fear and anger amongst the students and faculty. As the anniversary of Farrell’s untimely death approaches, a group of ten students and Professor Amy Quinn sit in a classroom discussing how best to tell Donnie’s story.

Journalism professors Kathryn Quigley and Quinn thought it important to keep Farrell’s name alive and that this project would also serve to help students learn how to be great journalists. After presenting the course to many administrators, the two designed the course devoted to the Farrell case, which would be taught by Quinn.

Over the last few weeks, the class has been researching the case, looking back at old stories written about Farrell and studying the investigation. Now, the class prepares to tell Donnie’s story from a unique perspective—the students’.

“Someone was going to do this story — why not us?” Quinn said.

Though no students in the class knew Farrell, the project is a personal one.

“Everybody has a connection to the Farrell case because we are all attending Rowan,” said Brian Jacobs, a senior journalism major.

Students agreed that the case is not as known among the Rowan community as it should be.

“I remember the incoming freshman the next year not knowing anything about the Farrell case,” said Julia Gentek, who was a sophomore on campus when Farrell was killed.

This course, designed to give students a real-life experience, requires its students to act like real journalists.

“The classroom is like a real newsroom,” said senior journalism major Damian Biniek.

Each person in the class is an asset to the project. Quinn said that each student will edit each other’s work as a team in order to accomplish the ultimate goal of the project—to tell Donnie’s story.

Through research, the class learned not only about the case, but also about Farrell. Some students admitted to identifying with Farrell and stated that everyone knows someone like him.

“This is not just a story of someone who died, but someone who lived,” Quinn said.

The class is still in the early stages of the project, but things are moving quickly. Quinn describes the story as taking a life of its own.

Some students are assigned to interview Farrell’s family and friends while others are talking to the Rowan staff. The project will show different aspects of Farrell as both a person and a victim through the eyes of several people.

One way in which the class intends to not only reach out to the friends and family of Farrell, but also to preview their work, is through the use of social media.

“We are using social media as a place to start a community conversation,” said Quinn. Besides Twitter, the class created a website (thedonniefarrellproject.com), a Facebook page and an email address (thedonnieproject@gmail.com). A Twitter account (@DonnieProject) will be used when interviewing Farrell’s friends and family.

“The social media will get people interested and involved,” Quinn said. These sites will be available to the public and can be used for reading and writing about Farrell and the incident.

Social networks are beneficial in alerting professional medium of the project. “This project will give students a professional clip to use on their résumé,” Quinn said. This is the reason for each person receiving a specific assignment. When applying for a job, having experience in one medium could help better qualify students for the position.

Though the class is only one semester long, the sites will remain active for the community to use in hopes that people will continue to read about Donnie.

“Maybe years from now, a tip may come in through one of the networks,” Quinn said. She hopes that the relationships formed in this class will help the students keep the sites up-to-date even after the class ends, tell Donnie’s story and through awareness, maybe even help lead to the solving of the case.

Their hope through this project is that people never forget about Farrell and what happened to him. Though the sites can be used to provide tips and additional information about the case, the idea of the project is to keep people informed.

“We’re not trying to solve the murder, but we feel it’s important to tell the story of what happened to Donnie,” Quinn said.

After the anniversary of Donnie Farrell’s death this past October, Rowan University administration said that they were doing more to protect the students. With the addition of more officers to the police force and a campus shuttle, students should feel safer while being on campus. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

The increase of police surveillance is great for students, and the public safety department states they are doing what they can; still what they are doing is not enough. Several of the emergency poles have been out of order since early last semester, a problem that should have been fixed over winter break.

Public safety was completely aware of the problem, stating on Oct. 28, 2009 that they spent $3.5 million on public safety, including adding new light poles. While they were able to spend it on more officers and lights, they ignored a problem that already exists.

When Rowan finds they would rather spend their money on building Rowan Boulevard instead of fixing the campus that is already built, it becomes a problem.

Even though the public safety department says they are now expanding the budget to include fixing the blue light system, shouldn’t this have been done before? This is not a new problem, so why is the public safety department just starting to address this?

Students need to feel safe. If Rowan University wants to expand and become the great institution that Dr. Farish and the administration want it to be, then they need to start with safety. Students cannot learn, live or function if they are scared to walk from point A to point B after dark.

Sure, public safety is welcoming complaints and is addressing each concern individually, but this is not an individual concern. This is a campus-wide problem that could hurt enrollment if it continues.

On tours, admissions ambassadors bring tour groups past “out of order” emergency poles, portraying a dangerous image to potential students. Potential freshman are going to question why the emergency poles which were put in place for our safety are not able to be used in emergencies. All the admissions ambassadors would be able to say is, “We’re working on it.”

Public safety needs to work faster. If these poles do not get fixed soon, Rowan University might find some empty on-campus housing because potential students certainly look at campus safety when deciding to attend a university.

The lack of ability to call for help is a problem that needs to be solved as soon as possible. Over the last four years, Rowan has made many positive strides in the area of campus safety, but the four-month wait to start fixing the emergency poles around campus is holding Rowan back immensely.

SGA held “Rowan Remembers” candlelight vigil on Monday night in an effort to unite the Rowan University community and commemorate the the university’s lost lives.

Beth Kolakowski, Public Relations Director of SGA, said this is the third annual candlelight vigil held at the university.

“Two years ago, it was geared towards Donnie Farrell,” Kolakowski said. “This year it’s open to everyone, so as not to leave anyone out.”

Yellow t-shirts, adorned with the words “Rowan United,” were given to those who attended the event. Long white candles were handed to the crowd, as students helped ignite each others wicks for the procession. Brown and yellow carnations were also handed out.

As the crowd reached their destination and surrounded the unplanted tree, Chief Financial Officer of SGA, J.J. Vogel, and Vice President of SGA, Wilmer Castro, read the names out loud of deceased faculty, staff, administration, students and alumni of the university.

Kristen Conner, a sophomore journalism student, attended the ceremony to honor the memory of her friend, Shannon Elizabeth Newell. Newell, a former student at Rowan, died last summer in a car accident.

“I was in Women’s Choir with Shannon,” Conner said. “I wasn’t good friends with her but I knew how good her voice was. Everything about her radiated beauty.”

The SGA chose to plant a tree that will eventually have a small clock tower next to it. The tree was planted on Tuesday morning.

“We decided to plant the red maple to signify the legacy of the lives lost in the Rowan community,” Kolakowski said.

According to Jill Steier, the alternate student trustee on the Board of Trustees, the preparations for the clock tower will begin in the spring and benches will be constructed around the area so students will be able to sit and reflect.

Vogel explained the significance of the event in a much broader sense.

“It was great experience for the Rowan family and community…to help us remember the past and where we came from, and the people who worked hard to get us where we are today,” Vogel said.

Michael Kerbaugh, senior and president of Rowan’s club lacrosse team, was a close friend of Farrell’s and decided the best way to commemorate his life was by holding a lacrosse tournament.

The goal was to raise money for a scholarship in Farrell’s honor at his high school, Mountain Lakes High School, located in Morris County.

Called the Donald J. Farrell III Memorial Scholarship, and supported by the Boonton Township Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 392, the scholarship is awarded to a student who “posses courage, integrity, and a clear desire to excel.”

The idea of a tournament to honor Farrell had been in Kerbaugh’s mind since his friend was killed, but different obstacles kept getting in the way.

“I’ve been kicking around a tournament for a while because I was very close with Donnie,” Kerbaugh said. “We tried to do something last year, but it got shut down because of issues with the facilities. The budget got very large and we just couldn’t get it together in time.”

Last spring, the team’s idea was to hold a 24-hour lacrosse tournament in which teams from all over the state, including Farrell’s high school team, would play non-stop for an entire day with each team rotating their time on the field.

After the 24-hour tournament fizzled, the team decided to set their sights a little lower. With Kerbaugh leading, they got a four-team tournament together that was held on Nov. 7 and 8 on the intramural fields.

Using his contacts with friends on other club teams, Kerbaugh managed to get Cabrini College, Drexel University and LaSalle University to participate in the event. He had e-mailed 12 to 14 different schools in the area asking them to join the tournament, but club teams have a harder time getting organized, especially in their off-season.

“Being fall, its tough to get people and teams to travel to Rowan for an off-season tournament. Our real season starts in spring,” Kerbaugh said.

Sophomore Tim Ryan sees other road blocks for club spots in college.

“It’s a club team. We don’t have a coach; it’s just us,” Ryan said. “We have to handle everything ourselves.”

Ryan believes that without all of Kerbaugh’s hard work, the tournament would never have happened.

“Mike did a lot of this by himself,” Ryan said. “I give him a ton of credit for this. He really worked hard to get the teams, the refs together. Then he told us afterward so we could get on board.”

Ryan didn’t know Farrell, but grew up in the same area and even played against him in high school lacrosse.

“I didn’t know Donnie personally, but the fact that he was so close to someone that we look up to was a big deal to us. Mike’s our leader and he gave us incentive for everyone to do their part,” Ryan said.

Sunday was a special day at the tournament when Farrell’s parents visited and talked to players. Ryan got the chance to speak with Farrell’s parents in between games.

“When I talked to his parents, you could tell they were so grateful that we put this together [and] so appreciative of the tournament,” Ryan said.

The team raised money from a snack stand, “LAX 4 Donnie” t-shirts and charging each team a $400 entry fee. The entry fee helped to pay for the referees and the winner’s trophy.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t raise too much money, but one of the major things we were able to accomplish was honoring Donnie,” Kerbaugh said.

Kerbaugh hopes the Rowan’s club lacrosse team continues with the tournament long after he has graduated.

“I would like to see it continued each year. It has the opportunity to grow, raise awareness and raise more money,” Kerbaugh said.

Ryan hopes he can learn as much as he can from Kerbaugh so once Kerbaugh graduates in the spring, Ryan can continue the tournament. Both players see this tournament as something that can become an annual fundraiser.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to pass it [tradition of tournament] along once I graduate too. I think its something great for the team and for people to remember Donnie,” Ryan said.

For Kerbaugh, the tournament was successful, but he has other goals in mind with respect to Farrell.

“They still haven’t found the suspects,” Kerbaugh said. “There is an over $100,000 reward. His parents would like some closure. I’d like to see some progress in the case.”

The family of Donald “Donnie” Farrell III is suing three Rowan University students over an alleged assault that occurred six months before his death.

Farrell died during his sophomore year after being attacked, robbed and beaten on Oct. 27, 2007.

The lawsuit involves an unrelated incident that happened on April 20, 2007.

Named in the lawsuit are current Rowan students Colin Donovan, Thomas Capo, and David Stahl. Capo and Donovan said they acted in self defense. Stahl could not be reached.

Farrell’s injuries included a broken jaw and broken teeth according to Brian Kincaid, the Farrell family lawyer.

“[Donnie] had to have his jaw wired shut,” he said.

The civil suit was filed April 13 by Kincaid in state Superior Court in Morristown. The Whit was unable to secure a copy of the lawsuit from Morris County.

“The suit was filed on behalf of the estate against three students. It is also against a property owner where the assault occurred,” Kincaid said. The attorney is handling media correspondence for the family.

The incident occurred at an off-campus house on Heston Road, Kincaid said.

Capo said in an e-mailed statement to The Whit that Farrell arrived at the off-campus house “extremely drunk,” and was asked to leave, and that Farrell began the violence by punching their neighbor in the face, allegedly unprovoked.

Donovan’s lawyer, Ronald L. Greenblatt, said in an e-mail, “On the night of the incident involved in the civil suit, there were numerous witnesses who testified about Mr. Farrell’s aggressive and assaultive actions.”

Capo said attempts made by he, Donovan and Stahl to walk Farrell home turned into a fight.

“Donald aggressively moved toward [Donovan, who] punched him one time,” Capo said. “At this time Donald turned and walked home without saying a word.”

Kincaid said he is not surprised that Capo placed the incident off the property.

“We just found out that Mr. Capo is the property owner on record,” Kincaid said.

University spokesman Joe Cardona said no disciplinary action was taken against Stahl and Capo following a 2007 disciplinary hearing on campus. Donovan was given a one-year suspension, but was allowed to register again for the spring 2009 semester.

The Rowan student handbook states, “Private off-campus events which are not sponsored or funded by Rowan University will also be subject to the University discipline system if the conduct violates local, state, or federal law or when the University determines that the conduct has a direct impact on the educational mission and interests of the University and/or the safety and welfare of the University community.”

The civil suit is seeking monetary compensation for Farrell’s medical expenses, punitive damages, and legal costs, Kincaid said.

“The law does permit someone to file suit regarding an incident to seek monetary damages and pain and suffering, even if the injured has passed away,” Kincaid said.

“I feel sorry for the family, as they have lost a child, but they are knowingly filing false charges against us to selfishly make money for themselves,” Capo said. “We were trying to help their son that night. Now they are trying to ruin our lives.”

In a separate legal action in December 2007, a Gloucester County grand jury found there was insufficient evidence to indict Stahl and Capo. They remanded Donovan’s case back to the Glassboro Municipal Court.

According to Greenblatt, Farrell never identified Donovan in the assault charges.

“Mr. Donovan stepped forward when he was under no legal obligation to do so and admitted he struck Mr. Farrell one time in self defense,” Greenblatt said.

According to Bernie Weisenfeld, spokesman for the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s office, a detective in the prosecutor’s office is looking for more witnesses who were at the party where the incident took place, and is still investigating the matter.