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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 Paul Rusesabagina to speak at UNI Nov. 3 CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Paul Rusesabagina, whose personal experiences of the Rwandan genocide inspired the 2004 film "Hotel Rwanda," will speak at the University of Northern Iowa on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Lang Hall Auditorium. The program will begin at 7 p.m. with the lecture to start at 7:30. A book signing and reception will be held following the lecture in the Center for Multicultural Education (CME). An informal discussion also will be held in the CME at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Rusesabagina is the author of "An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography."
Published in 2006 on the 12th anniversary of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, the novel explores Rusesabagina's personal journey while explaining the history behind Rwanda's Hutu and Tutsi tribes within the historical context of the conflict. He saved the lives of his family and more than 1,200 other refugees by granting them shelter in the Hotel des Milles Collines, where he was employed as the manager.
He founded the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation (HRRF), which provides support, care and assistance to children orphaned by, and women abused during, the genocide in Rwanda. He also is the recipient of numerous awards, including the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award and the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award.
The event is sponsored in part by UNI's Diversity Council, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Center for Multicultural Education, Holocaust and Genocide Education Program, African Union, College of Humanities and Fine Arts and the Student Services Fee Committee.
Special showings of "Hotel Rwanda" will be at 3 and 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, in the CME lobby.
For more information about Paul Rusesabagina and the CME, visit the CME Web site at www.uni.edu/cme.
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