Scholarship Fund Set Up In Memory Of Slain EMU Student

YPSILANTI (WWJ/AP) - The family of a 23-year-old Eastern Michigan University student whose December death was ruled a homicide has established a scholarship fund in her memory.

Julia Niswender was a Monroe native and was an undergraduate at the Ypsilanti school. Her body was found in her bedroom Dec. 11 at the Peninsular Place Apartments on Huron River Drive, located across the street from the campus police station. Investigators haven't yet determined how she died, although they say an investigation remains active and ongoing.

Niswender's twin sister Jennifer said the scholarship will be available for Eastern Michigan University students who are twins. The Julia Niswender fund, also called the Justice for Julia fund, is set up through the Monroe Bank and Trust.

Jennifer Niswender and others plan to be on campus Friday and Saturday to accept donations. Justice for Julia T-shirts and bracelets are also being sold.

"We are doing this at EMU next week because we haven't been able to get up there with them yet," Jennifer Niswender told AnnArbor.com. "A lot of people in Monroe have them, but EMU was such a big part of Julia's life, so we want people up there to have them, too."

Details for the scholarship fund, including when the applications may open, are still being worked out.

Police say they don't yet have any suspects in Niswender's death.

Anyone who might have information is asked to contact Ypsilanti police at 734-482-9878 or Crime Stopper at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

A website has been established to provide the latest updates on the investigation into Niswender's death, as well as campus safety and security information. Counseling is available for students and others in the EMU family. Those interested may contact Counseling and Psychological Services at 734-487-1118.

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