Sister Helen Prejean to Return to UO
Death row activist Sister Helen Prejean will return to the UO in October 2011 to work with CHC students and men incarcerated at the Oregon State Penitentiary.
Sister Helen Prejean and Katie Dwyer, CHC '10.
“Sister Helen is an international leader for social justice and the abolition of capital punishment,” says CHC alumna Katie Dwyer, now a graduate student in the UO’s Conflict and Resolution Management master’s program who is helping plan Prejean’s visit. Prejean made her last visit to the UO in October 2010.
“She is a profoundly inspirational speaker and a great example of an individual making a large difference in the world. In addition to her power as a speaker, she is also an enthusiastic supporter of Inside-Out and the many goals of the Clark Honors College,” continues Dwyer. “She has been incredibly well-received by the UO community at many levels: that of the small seminar classes, the campus networks, and the greater Eugene community. Her return will deepen the relationship we have with this national leader, and also develop the university's commitment to student engagement and the development of civic leaders.”
The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program is a unique program that allows traditional university students and people who are incarcerated to share learning experiences. More than eighty UO students have participated in Inside-Out classes, where they discuss academic and life topics with prisoners at the penitentiary. Dwyer continues to be involved with the Inside-Out program both nationally and locally. She was also the Graduate Teaching Fellow for two UO Inside-Out classes this year.
Although her schedule is still tentative, this fall Prejean will visit UO classes and interact with local activists and religious leaders. She will also conduct a writing workshop as part of the Inside-Out program, at the state penitentiary in Salem. Prejean will also visit the UO’s Portland campus and meet with Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. This year's visit “will be very similar to last year's,” explains Dwyer. “We hope to expand the conversation to include other parts of the university and broader community, and to deepen the conversation with the benefit of our growing history together.”
“Sister Helen has lit a fire in me to live in accordance with my beliefs, and to act in every way possible to make a difference in the world,” says Dwyer. “She has also modeled a life of humor and empathy within the context of highly emotional and demanding work. I aspire to be as kind, welcoming, and funny as she is. I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her, to hear her speak, and to share her stories and the experiences of her life with so many of my peers.”
“The reason this subject is so compelling to me is that Sister Helen uses the issue of capital punishment as a lens to discuss larger issues of inequality within the criminal justice system, and social justice systems generally. The issue is important within itself, and is also incredibly important for our deepening understanding of our collective moral values and human rights.”
Keep an eye on honors.uoregon.edu for more details on Prejean's fall visit.
