The Fairfield University Student Association (FUSA) and The First Year Experience Program at Fairfield University are honored to present Paul Rusesabagina, whose heroic story is chronicled in the Academy Award-nominated film "Hotel Rwanda," for a lecture entitled "Hotel Rwanda: A Lesson to be Learned."
The lecture will take place Thursday, December 1, at 8 p.m. at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Rusesabagina is responsible for saving the lives of more than 1,200 people during the horrific Rwandan genocide of 1994 by converting his luxury hotel into a sanctuary. The film "Hotel Rwanda," starring Don Cheadle, has been critically acclaimed by Roger Ebert as "one of the most inspirational movies I have ever seen."
Known as the "Rwandan Schindler," Rusesabagina recounts his personal story in hopes that future disasters of this gruesome magnitude will be prevented. "I hope this will be a wakeup call, not only for Rwanda, but the whole international community," he said.
On April 7, 1994, the Hutu-led Interahamwe militia began to massacre members of the rival Tutsi tribe. Despite media coverage, the international community and the United Nations failed to prevent the massacre. The genocide lasted more than three months and more than 800,000 Rwandans were killed.
Today, Rusesabagina is dedicated to raising international awareness of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, while also educating about the current situations in Sudan and the Congo. Founder of the Massachusetts-based Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation, he works to provide support services for women and children affected by the genocidal violence in Rwanda.
Ticket sales will begin on Friday, November 18, and can be purchased through the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts Box Office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396. Tickets are $10 for faculty, staff and administrators; general admission tickets are $25.
For more information, please contact (203) 254-4000 ext, 3875.
Posted On: 11-08-2005 10:11 AM
Volume: 38 Number: 100