'Hotel Rwanda' hero brings genocide story to Benedictine

As the first buds of spring pop on the lush, rolling campus of Benedictine University in Lisle, the topic of genocide seems a world away.

So the Catholic university is bringing that world to Lisle.

"I think it's important to hear about these things, as awful as they are," says Jim Ryan, the former Illinois attorney general who, in his position as a distinguished fellow at the university, is hosting a presentation by Paul Rusesabagina, the man whose story inspired the movie "Hotel Rwanda."

Rusesabagina, who now lives in Belgium, will present "Hotel Rwanda: A Lesson Yet To Be Learned" from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Dan and Ada Rice Center, 5700 College Road, on the Lisle campus. The event is free and open to the public.

It's all part of Ryan's quest to engage Americans, especially young people, in the world, politics, civic responsibility and public service.

"I think it's important for young people to know, even though it's an ugly topic," Ryan says of genocide.

The university doesn't shy from the topic.

"I've been teaching about war since I've got here," says Joel Ostrow, chair of the university's political science department, who even teaches a class called "Genocide: The Politics of Hate, Fear, Terror and Power."

"It was gloomy, but it was a good course," Ostrow says.

Rusesabagina, who received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for the inspirational story of how he saved 1,268 people during the 1994 slaughter in Rwanda, is a perfect fit for Benedictine's youth government day and Ostrow's panel about genocide.

"What can ordinary students, ordinary citizens, in the U.S. do?" Ostrow says.

This spring, senior Jennifer Erickson of Lockport started a Benedictine chapter of STAND, an international student coalition that aims to end and prevent genocide. Originally called "Students Taking Action Now: Darfur," the international charity (www.standnow.org) is the student wing of the Genocide Intervention Network (www.genocideintervention.net).

"I just became a more engaged citizen and wanted to learn more about these kinds of problems," says Erickson, who notes that her STAND chapter has grown quickly to nearly 30 students and includes Ostrow as the faculty adviser.

"There are a lot of places in the world at risk," Ostrow adds, explaining that no country is immune from the specter of genocide.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, some people in the United States were quick to turn against others.

"What if there had been a Sept. 12 and a Sept. 13?" Ostrow asks, noting it is important to understand how genocide happens. "You have to be aware of it to be aware of it."

Answers aren't easy.

"It's a tricky issue," Ryan says. "We can't police the world. But … a civilized world should never tolerate this happening."

Since the end of the Cold War, when the USSR and the U.S. dominated the world landscape, genocide has been on the rise, Ostrow says.

"Since the Holocaust, genocide has continued to happen, and that shouldn't be the case at all," says Erickson, who turns 22 today. "I really think we can make changes. I think change begins on a grassroots level. … We can change how our country acts and perceives these problems."

For more information on Wednesday's free "Hotel Rwanda" presentation, visit www.ben.edu/ccl.