Bridge message, memory remain

Every day, Mandy Madden walks past the bridge on Jordan Avenue bearing Jill Behrman's name and says a prayer. \n"I pray for Jill, I pray for everyone," the sophomore said. "I just pray and I ask for things -- like that nobody forgets about what happened."\nToday the paint on the bridge is chipping away and bits of the walls are crumbling, but no one has forgotten Jill Behrman, the freshman who disappeared from Bloomington May 31, 2000.\nTypically the bridge is re-painted at least every two weeks by organizations advertising their callout meetings and special events -- especially during the first two weeks of classes, when so many groups are trying to attract freshmen.\nBut this year the bridge hasn't been touched since it was painted last May to honor the anniversary of Jill's disappearance. \nMadden said that the community's decision not to paint over the bridge shows that everyone has been touched by the message. \n"I know things are slow during the summer, but there's been two major chances to paint over it in August -- first with orientation, and now men's rush," Madden said. "It shows that over the summer she hasn't been forgotten or put in the back of everyone's minds."\nSenior Ben Schmidt, president of the Interfraternity Council, said IFC sought other ways of advertising for men's rush this year.\n"I'm glad to see it hasn't been painted over," Schmidt said.\nThe bridge is painted yellow and blue -- Jill's favorite colors -- on both sides. For the most part, graffiti remains only on the sidewalk. The words 'Remember Jill Behrman', written three times in yellow paint, are clearly visible.\nRemembering Jill has become an enormous concern for Madden. It's not just the thought that people might forget about her friend -- Madden is also worried that as people's memories of Jill fade, so will safety precautions.\n"One year ago, everyone was thinking about their personal safety, and now that's not the case," Madden said. "I see all these freshmen girls out walking alone or running by themselves at night, and I think, 'OK, you're dumb.' I mean, it happened at 9 a.m., that's when she disappeared. It could happen to anyone."\nEric Behrman said that he's also worried about freshmen who may not have heard of his daughter's disappearance. \n"Bad things happen anywhere, at any time," Behrman said. "Whenever you're jogging or hiking, you're taking a risk. You need all your senses. I see so many people listening to music while they're jogging, and they don't realize that takes away your sense of hearing."\nBehrman said that while he drives by the bridge each day on the way to his job at the alumni station on 17th Street, he knows it won't stay that way forever.\n"Eventually something will come up and it will be repainted," Behrman said. "And when that happens, it's fine."\nMarilyn Behrman, Jill's mother, drives past the bridge from time to time. \n"People are always telling me, 'Oh, it's still there', and I'm grateful for that," she said. "But I'm also surprised -- I know that there must be a lot of things going on during the first few weeks of school."\nJill Behrman has been remembered in more ways than one. Yellow ribbons still decorate some parts of Bloomington, and Eric and Marilyn Behrman have started the Jill Behrman Emerging Leader scholarship, which was awarded for the first time last year.\nRun for the Endzone, a 5K run organized by Recreational Sports, has been permanently renamed "The Jill Behrman Run for the Endzone" to honor Jill, a Recsports employee. In fact, the bridge on Jordan was painted by the student committee that organizes the race.\n"It's amazing," said Chris Geary, who supervises the student committee as coordinator of special events at Recsports. "Normally that bridge has been painted over 10 times by now. I think it says a lot about IU and the Bloomington community."\nGeary added that this year's run will once again benefit the Behrman family. Although the event isn't until Sept. 17, Geary said participants can sign up now at the School of Health Physical Education and Recreation or the Student Recreational Sports Center.\n"It's a big event," Geary said. "It's a day of celebration, celebration of Jill's life, and there's a safety fair at the same time. It keeps people aware of what can happen"