Dolly Parton Cut-Out Vandalized on Wilmington College Campus: Who Would Harm the Patron Saint of Literacy?

Dolly — before the fatal kick that split the cutout in half.

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) is a national initiative aimed at fostering a love of reading in kids. Reading from a young age fosters a love for learning and an ability to educate oneself with ease. Since its founding in 1995, the initiative sends free books each month to kids, covering the period from birth up to five years old, regardless of how much money their families make. This initiative equips children with the tools they need for a successful educational journey by giving them consistent access to books, which helps them develop literacy skills, language capabilities, and a lasting fondness for reading, even before they begin school.

The Clinton County Literacy Foundation (CCLF) and DPIL will deliver these books to families and children in the local community through a partnership. Through events, book donations, and community initiatives, the organization builds awareness, including families, and boosts local literacy. They aim to help kids in the county by empowering them with resources and motivation to improve their reading abilities early on, ensuring every child has a fair chance to succeed, regardless of their origin. It is our hope that these children will eventually become students on this campus, but really, that they tap into higher learning during or after high school.

CCLF uses a life-sized cut-out of Dolly Parton in its promotional activities; the cut-out traveled around Clinton County, including a stop at Wilmington College. The cut-out had several roles: it raised awareness about DPIL, prompted children and families to read, and provided fun photo ops for social media. I even used the Dolly Parton cut-out in a short video for my Public and Media Relations class. This semester a student at the College is handling CCLF’s social media accounts as part of our Social Media Management class. This student has coordinated some of Dolly’s cut-out appearances throughout the county to generate public interest, promote interaction, and increase awareness. The online sharing of Dolly’s cut-out, along with sharing her location, prompted local people to gather and “meet” her, promoting literacy.

Unfortunately, a student from Wilmington College

vandalized the Dolly cut-out by kicking it in two.

Given Dolly’s reputation for supporting love, acceptance, and literacy among young people, it’s difficult to fathom who would want to harm Dolly Parton.

The damage to the property was not the only problem; it undid the community’s engagement and the efforts of volunteers over several months.

Also, the cut-out replacement is pricey, and it costs $200. The cut-out symbolized the foundation’s mission to encourage literacy and cultivate reading enjoyment among children and families. Such acts of vandalism are disrespectful of programs that benefit the community.

It is not in the spirit of our core values here at Wilmington College, which, if anyone needs reminding, are: Integrity, Community, Diversity, Excellence, Peace and Social Justice, Respect for All Persons, Service and Civic Engagement. The act of vandalism clashes with Integrity since it is unfair, dishonest, and irresponsible, thus breaking the trust and moral standards of the campus. Additionally, this conflicts with the values of Community, Respect for All, and Peace and Social Justice, as it damages public spaces, disregards the work of others, and compromises the College’s pledge to foster a cooperative, inclusive, and an equitable environment.

Programs such as DPIL and CCLF are vital to strengthening the community’s educational framework. The traveling Dolly Parton cut-out was a clever and effective way to promote literacy in Clinton County. Vandalizing these programs undermines the community’s collective goal of promoting reading, education, and continuous learning. These programs offer children the books, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive, which is something we make possible when we show them respect. Being a final-semester undergraduate student, I can attest to significant personal growth over the past two years, particularly in understanding respect, fairness, peacefulness, and kindness.

To make progress, we must bring this to light, and we should offer forgiveness only if the person accepts responsibility. I urge every student to embody our core values and constantly seek advancement because learning is a lifelong process.