In the coming weeks, we know that many of us will be reading Don’s work for the first time, or returning to our favorite of his pieces, or those we remember having liked but perhaps haven’t read lately.  A commenter wrote in to say that a group of people in San Francisco were gathering to read and discuss Don’s work together.  Another has issued a call for papers for a conference panel, to be devoted to Don’s work at next year’s MLA conference in Los Angeles.  Here in Bloomington, a public reading of Don’s work is planned for later in the semester.  This weekend, the Bloomington Pride Film Festival was dedicated to Don.

His picture appears in the Festival program, and yesterday afternoon (Saturday), a panel discussion convened, after a screening of the film “Out in the Silence,” so that we might come together as a community to consider how and why different GLBTQI people inhabit, thrive, survive, and die in small towns.

Things on this site have slowed down a bit, but I know that for many of us, Don is constantly in our passing, and more concentrated, thoughts.  I write to encourage you to share your thoughts of Don in the coming weeks, those that will bring both the memorial service in Philadelphia (see previous post) and Michael Griffin’s trial.  If you find yourself reading Don’s work and have thoughts to share, we invite you to share them here.  If you have thoughts about the way in which Don’s life and death resonate in larger conversations, other stories and circumstances, this might be a place to share those.

It is our hope that the site continues to be a place for vibrant conversation, even as the immediate shock, outrage, and grief over Don’s death begins to shade into some other complex set of feelings, attitudes, and emotions.  I know many of us still want to talk about Don, and remember him. But this site might also be a place for those of us who never met Don to meet him now–through his work.

If any of you have links to Don’s work or other materials available–either by Don or about Don’s literary legacy and life–I urge you to post them here (I have heard of an interview in which Don is a participant but haven’t been able to locate it).

With thanks to everyone who has already visited this site.

…Bloomington’s famous theater, the Buskirk-Chumley, featured pictures of Don in its glass window to publicize the fact that this year’s PRIDE film festival is dedicated to his memory.

Hundreds more people, including those who traveled from neighboring cities, got to learn about Don Belton this weekend.

This just in from commenter Andy:

Dear Family, Friends and Colleagues of Don Belton,

There is a tribute schedule for Philadelphia on Wednesday, February 24th from 6-8pm. The tribute with be held at The Moonstone Arts Center, 110A S. 13th Street, between Chestnut and Sansom Streets in Center City, along with the support of Art Sanctuary. Please show your support by spreading the word.

Thank You.

admin note: there may be other memorials planned for this area; we will update as information comes in.

Sometimes, things go wrong.  But remember: you don’t have to go with them.

At Friday evening’s memorial service for Don Belton, held at the Bloomington, IN Unitarian Universalist Church, this advice sat at the center of a story relayed by Don’s brother, Wayne.

It was a story about the move to Hollins College—from which Don received an M.A. in 1982—and the unexpectedly long road it took to get there, with a sports car up front and a hitched U-Haul trailer (“full of Don’s myriad collection of books”) pulling up the rear.  Wayne, standing tall and elegant with a red handkerchief tucked snugly into his suit pocket, explained:  it might have been that someone gave them bad directions; it might have been that they followed good directions badly.  Either way, a six hour trip turned into one lasting “more than twelve,” with the remarkable result that it was deemed, by everyone, not just a memorable but even a pleasing, an enjoyable, a good trip.  What ought to have been a fiasco had turned into something other than.  Things go wrong.  But you?  You can go otherwise.

more about the memorial service…
(more…)

A memorial service for Don Belton will be held tonight, January 15, at 5 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 2120 North Fee Lane.

A few people have passed along or mentioned this Inside Higher Ed column, which discusses and references Don’s work, life, and death.

Also, there is a piece at historiann.com that discusses the response to Don’s death, the nuances that get lost in such responses, and the concept of ‘justice’ and what it may mean for Don.

There has been some smart discussion recently about what ‘Justice’ may mean for Don. This website is but one response, and hopefully will serve as a clearinghouse for various voices who were touched by Don. We recognize that speculation is simultaneously natural and somewhat pointless. We do believe the concept of ‘Justice’ is up for discussion and hope that we have in some small way, rather than reducing him to a ‘case’ or ’cause,’ allowed the real Don to shine through, regardless of the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

See you at the memorial on Friday.

An official statement from the IU provost was released Monday, January 11:

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

As the campus begins the new semester, we must acknowledge a terrible loss.
Some of you may just now be returning to campus after the holidays, and I am
very sad to inform you that the Indiana University community lost a dear
colleague during the semester break.

Don Belton, a faculty member in the English Department, was slain at his home
in Bloomington on December 27. (An arrest has been made in the case.)

In his relatively brief time at IUB, Professor Belton earned the admiration
and affection of his colleagues and students.

(more…)

Although the IU English Dept. had already issued an early statement about Don, it has since posted a new and powerful statement on the front page of its web site which can be found here.

Thank you ever so much to photographer Kip May for forwarding along these very recent photos of Don Belton.

Kip May took a series of pictures of Don on Dec 26, 2009. Don had met with Kip at Kip’s studio to learn how to use his brand new camera, which we imagine he had intended to take to Hawaii with him. Edited to add: according to a friend, Don purchased his camera for a new writing project he was working on. He was going to take pictures and write stories about them.

Don Belton on Dec 26, photo by Kip May

Don Belton, Dec 26, photo by Kip May

The latest IU Newsroom release not only acknowledges that Don Belton was killed but features some great photos from the candlelight vigil.

As far as we know this comes through the university communications dept., not from any particular IU office.