Dr. Brian Dirck, assistant professor of History at Anderson University, has released Lincoln the Lawyer, a new book focusing on the law career of the 16th President of the United States. Published by the University of Illinois Press, the book examines what the law did to and for Abraham Lincoln, and its important impact on his future presidency.

“A lot of people forget that Lincoln was a lawyer, and a very good one,” Dirck points out, “in fact, he is the most experienced trial attorney we ever put in the White House.”

Despite historians’ focus on the man as president and politician, Abraham Lincoln lived most of his adult life as a practicing lawyer. It was as a lawyer that he fed his family, made his reputation, bonded with Illinois, and began his political career. Lawyering was also how Lincoln learned to become an expert mediator between angry antagonists, as he applied his knowledge of the law and of human nature to settle one dispute after another.

It’s women, working with women for women. And they are bound to make a difference. By making and selling hand-crafted journals, six young ladies, all former or current students at Anderson University, have come together to help fight women’s oppression all over the world. Megan Barnett, Audrey Mattingly, Jaime Nigh, Melissa Oesch, Melissa Ann Taylor and Rachel “Ray” White have all taken part in beginning Bound 4 Freedom, a non-profit organization, right here in Anderson.

The whole thing began when Barnett, 22, was making journals and giving them away.

“Our pastor said she should start making more journals and sell them because they were so unique,” said Oesch, 24. “We began talking and we were both concerned with women in oppressed situations and so we came up with the idea and started gathering other women interested. Now it’s the six of us and we have lots of volunteers.”

Even though the organization is still in its beginning stages, it has come a long way since its August 2005 inception.

“We started with 20 bucks,” said White, 23. “We made a journal and sold it and used that money to make a few more and so on. We’re up to 700 plus journals sold.”

Now, Bound 4 Freedom has two part-time employees, regular studio hours at The Mercy House, a local church located on 14th Street in Anderson, approximately 30 regular volunteers and an online store.

“Our goal is to go international with this,” said Mattingly, 23. “We want to start up branches all over and employ women who are struggling to give them a sustainable income. Right now, we’re just in the U.S., but we’re just starting.”

Each journal is hand-crafted and very unique.

“We have a lot of people involved and each person has their own aesthetic, so each journal comes out different,” said Mattingly.

As for materials, the women said they use everything from old wallpaper, material found at garage sales and “just whatever,” said Mattingly. “The paper inside, we buy at Hobby Lobby.”

Each journal is hand-sewn, has 100 unlined pages and range in cost from $15 to $40 depending on the size and materials involved [Photo: Mandy Coplin and Joshua Cook work on decorating the covers of hand made journals along with other volunteers for Bound 4 Freedom].

Currently, the organization is working to officially receive their non-profit status and hope to have that done by July.

“It’s a long process,” said Taylor, 22. “We’ll be happy to receive this.”

Bound 4 Freedom is already working with international organizations donating journals for volunteers who work with HIV/AIDS patients to help women record their life stories to pass onto their children. They also donate journals to volunteers working in countries with extreme poverty to keep track of their journeys.

These young women have many more plans for Bound 4 Freedom. “We would like to connect to Dove Harbor, Alternatives and the Mustin Shelter to help local women who are struggling,” said Mattingly. “We want to give these women a chance to build work references and learn a skill. We also want to give back to our community as well.”

Ultimately, Bound 4 Freedom would like to become an umbrella organization and give people across the globe a venue in which to sell their hand-crafted items. “We would love to also be a connection for non-profit organizations,” said Mattingly.

These women are well on their way and business is picking up.

“We’ve made more than 847 journals so far,” said White.

Bound 4 Freedom journals are available locally in the Anderson University Bookstore and at The Mercy House during volunteer hours which run from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“We’re always looking for more volunteers,” said White. “Anyone is welcome to just show up. We will teach them everything they need to know.”

–Lynelle Miller is a reporter for The Herald Bulletin in Anderson. Story and photos republished with permission.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Former University of Pittsburgh head football coach Mike Gottfried sent a clear message to the parents of the youth who were honored at the Celebration of Character on Sunday evening [co-sponsored by the Center for Character Development at Anderson University]. “You should be proud,” Gottfried said. The now 17-year veteran of cable TV sports network ESPN’s football analysis staff gave the keynote address at Character Counts of Madison County’s annual banquet at Reardon Auditorium.

Anderson University seniors Pete Whiting, Zach Sounhein and sophomore Eric Smith were named to the 2007 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball team on Tuesday.

Anderson University recently announced the “Dreams. Discovery. Direction campagin has reached over the $80 million mark toward the $110 million goal. The public phase of the “Dreams, Discovery, Direction,” campaign for Anderson University was officially launched on October 5, 2006, and is the university’s largest fundraising effort to date.

“We are deeply grateful to so many of our friends, alumni and wider sources of support who have joined us in this transformational campaign,” said Dr. James L. Edwards, president of Anderson University. “‘Dreams, Discovery, Direction,’” is a campaign that expresses the hopes we have for our students and for those who will join us in this work in years to come. We are on schedule because of the devotion so many have for the mission of Anderson University. While we have a long way to go to reach our goal of $110 million, we receive this support as an expression of confidence that our life changing work is deeply meaningful to those who have made this impressive interim report possible, our generous donors.”

The campaign will raise support for endowment and scholarships; facilities and equipment; academic and student programs; and operational needs. Major components of the campaign include $51 million for capital projects, $34 million for endowment and $25 million for operational support. At the time of launch, the university announced that more than $61 million had been received in gifts and commitments. The last major campaign effort for Anderson University, with a goal of $75 million, ended in 1999 and raised $83.7 million.

“We are extremely gratified by the way in which friends of Anderson University have responded to the vision set forth in the ‘Dreams, Discovery, Direction,’ campaign,” said Bob Coffman, vice-president for Advancement at Anderson University. “This early success in the public phase of the campaign has fueled our optimism as we work to involve wider circles of our constituents.”

Gospel music legends Bill and Gloria Gaither serve as co-chairs of the National Campaign Advisory Commission. Co-chairing the National Campaign Cabinet is Tom L. Ward, chairman of the Board of Directors and chief executive officer of SandRidge Energy, Inc.; and James B. Winner, president of Winner Advisors.

For more information about the “Dreams, Discovery, Direction,” campaign for Anderson University, visit www.anderson/campaign or contact the Anderson University Office of Development at (800) 421-1025.

Anderson University is a private Christian university of 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students in central Indiana. Anderson continues to be recognized as a top Christian college: in 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked Anderson University among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, education, music, nursing and theology.

Anderson University recently announced to the Board of Trustees that the institution has reached the $72 million mark toward the $110 million goal of the “Dreams, Discovery, Direction,” campaign. The public phase of the “Dreams, Discovery, Direction,” campaign for Anderson University was officially launched on October 5, 2006, and is the university’s largest fundraising effort to date.

“We are deeply grateful to so many of our friends, alumni and wider sources of support who have joined us in this transformational campaign,” said Dr. James L. Edwards, president of Anderson University. “‘Dreams, Discovery, Direction,’” is a campaign that expresses the hopes we have for our students and for those who will join us in this work in years to come. We are on schedule because of the devotion so many have for the mission of Anderson University. While we have a long way to go to reach our goal of $110 million, this support is an expression of confidence that our life changing work is deeply meaningful to those who have made this impressive interim report possible, our generous donors.”

The Anderson University softball team lost to Bridgewater, Va., 5-2 on Sunday in the semfinals of the NCAA Div. III Central Regional at Muskingum Field in New Concord, Ohio.

The Anderson University baseball team lost to Mt. St. Joseph 6-3 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship game on Saturday afternoon in Lexington, Ky.

The Anderson University softball team defeated No. 3 Alma 2-1 and No. 1 Muskingum 10-2 in five innings on Saturday in the NCAA Div. III Central Regional at Muskingum Field in New Concord, Ohio.

The Anderson University softball team defeated Hood, Md., 11-1 on Friday in the NCAA Div. III Regional at Muskingum Field in New Concord, Ohio.