‘Hotel Rwanda’ Hero to Speak at Black History Month, Human Rights Week Events at UMaine

Contact: Jose Cordero, 581-1425; George Manlove, 581-3756

ORONO — Paul Rusesabagina, hero of the film “Hotel Rwanda,” is among the speakers coming to the University of Maine for Black History Month and Human Rights Week events this month.

He is scheduled to speak Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Maine Center for the Arts. The lecture is free, although campus sponsors will accept donations, according to co-organizer Jose Cordero, interim director of the Office of Multicultural Programs and the ALANA (African, Latino, Asian, Native American) Center at UMaine.

Black History Month events include a range of activities scheduled for Human Rights Awareness Week, Feb. 13-19. The month of February is filled with lectures, discussions, theatrical performances, films and a hunger banquet, all aimed at helping to promote a better understanding of black history in the United States and related human rights issues from around the world, including Africa and the Middle East.

Paul Rusesabagina’s lecture and book signing is set for the day after the screening of “Hotel Rwanda” at 8 p.m. in Feb. 18 in Room 100 in the D.P. Corbett Business Building.

Rusesabagina is the former assistant manager of the hotel Les Milles Collines in Kigali, Rwanda who saved the lives of more than 1,000 Rwandan refugees targeted for extermination by Hutu government militia members during 100 days of Rwandan genocide in 1994. He received several humanitarian awards for his heroic actions stalling government militia members who had surrounded the hotel with the intention of executing refugees inside. Rusesabagina called in favors, solicited international intervention and managed to keep the militia at bay until the genocidal attacks ceased.

“Hotel Rwanda” is the award-winning docudrama credited with bringing worldwide attention to the atrocities in Rwanda. During the so-called 100 days of genocide, Hutu militia slaughtered more than 800,000 members of the minority Tutsi ethnic group.

Black History Month and Human Rights Awareness Week activities are designed to raise awareness of some of the general issues of diversity, says Cordero, whether that involves a subject like interracial dating at UMaine or the politics of social subjects not commonly discussed openly.

“Being a predominantly white campus, it’s about being more aware of all cultures,” Cordero says. “It’s a great way to bring people together and talk about issues that don’t get talked about a lot. The goal is to talk about issues and awareness. I think we should understand that UMaine is a very diverse place.”

Subjects like religious beliefs and sexual orientation, in addition to ethnicity, raise issues of social concern, he adds.

“Dominant populations should know about their privileges and know how they are being perceived,” he says. Cordero says the issue of “privilege” plays an important and often overlooked role in both human relationships and policies.

Jim Varner, advisor to the UMaine Human Rights Coalition and president emeritus of the Greater Bangor-Area Chapter of the NAACP, says it’s important for Maine residents, in addition to UMaine students, to understand how black people have helped build and lead the nation.

“I think Black History Month is especially important here in Maine, seeing as Maine is the whitest state in the country with less than 2 percent of the population being black, Native American, Hispanic, Asian or other,” Varner adds.

It’s an important slate of events for students at UMaine, says Gimbala Sankare, a secondary education major from the Bronx, N.Y. and president of the Black Student Union.

“Black History Month is a chance for Africans and African Americans to show what their culture is all about, a chance to show how their culture influenced the history of this country, a chance to show the other cultures here at the University of Maine and the surrounding the community what our culture is all about,” he says. “It’s been a while since the university has seen events of this magnitude, and hopefully there are more events of this caliber for years to come.”

Black History Month (BHM) and Human Rights Awareness Week (HRAW) events are supported and organized by many different organizations and academic departments on campus and are free unless otherwise noted. For more information about events, Cordero can be reached at 581-1428.

A schedule of activities follows.

Monday, Feb. 12

Panel Discussion: “Interracial Dating at a Predominately White Campus”; sponsored by Multicultural Programs, BSU and the College of Education & Human Development, 2 p.m., 120 Little Hall (BHM)

Tuesday, Feb. 13

Hunger Banquet, sponsored by Pi Beta Phi InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Catholic Campus Ministry (Newman Center), Coe Room, Memorial Union, 5-6:30 p.m.

(HRAW)

Wednesday, Feb. 14

“From Chiapas to Orono: Women’s Rights as Human Rights”

Women in Curriculum Luncheon Series, Bangor Room, Memorial Union, 12:15-1:30 p.m. (HRAW)

Open Mic/Spoken word cafe, “Love of Humanity,” Bear’s Den, 8-10 p.m. (HRAW)

Thursday, Feb. 15

“Immigration and University Students,” Socialist-Marxist Studies lecture series, Bangor Room, 12:30-1:45 p.m.; sponsored by SHAC & the Philosophy Department (HRAW)

“Iraq for Sale”

Maine Peace Action Committee Movie, 140 Little Hall, 7 p.m. (HRAW)

Friday, Feb. 16

“Invisible Children” screening

Coe Room, Memorial Union, 12 p.m., with post movie discussion, with soup and bread, sponsored by the Peace Studies Dept (HRAW)

Saturday, Feb. 17

Community Service Volunteer Projects to assist Cross Roads, Big Red Redemption Center and Rag Dolls 2 Love Inc. (HRAW)

Sunday, Feb. 18

African artifacts display and Black History Month discussion, with Jim Varner, who helped found the Greater Bangor-Area Chapter of the NAACP, and professor Forrest Pritchett of Seton Hall University, New Jersey; 12-3 p.m., Bangor Room, Memorial Union (UMaine Human Rights Coalition sponsors)

“Hotel Rwanda” screening, D.P. Corbett Business Building, Room 100, 8 p.m., followed by discussion (HRAW)

Monday, February 19

Human Rights Week Keynote Speaker: Paul Rusesabagina, former manager of the Rwandan hotel featured in the film “Hotel Rwanda,” about Rusesabagina’s courageous harboring of more than 1,000 Rwandan families targeted by government Tutsi militias for extermination during 100 days of genocide in 1994; Maine Center for the Arts Hutchins Hall, Doors open at 6:30PM to be followed by a book signing; donations accepted (BHM/HRAW)

Wednesday, Feb. 21

“OM! A Street Corner Griot’s Comedy” by the Black Theatre Company, sponsored by BSU and Multicultural Programs, 101 Neville Hall, 3 p.m. (BHM) Sponsored by Multicultural Programs and the University College Bangor

“Why Is Black History Month Important and Who Benefits?” a discussion with Bernice M. Brown of Hampden and James Varner, 7-8:30 p.m., 101 Neville Hall (Black Student Union and UMaine Human Rights Coalition sponsors)

Sunday, Feb. 25

Princely Players — “On the Road to Glory,” 3 p.m. at the MCA; for tickets call 581-1755; students admitted free with a MaineCard (BHM)

African-Theme Dinner, 6 p.m., Bodwell Lounge, MCA; tickets $50; call 581-1755 (BHM)

Wedn
esday, Feb. 28

Solidarity Jazz & R&B Concert, featuring Jimmy “Fingers” Varner from Los Angles, Calif., 7 p.m., Hauck Auditorium (sponsored by the UMaine Human Rights Coalition, WMEB and other campus organizations)