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A talented faculty, challenging curricula and spirited conversations sharpen critical thinking and are the hallmarks of an education rooted in the liberal arts. At Viterbo, we accept our responsibility to raise issues and questions that require reflection and demand dialog among our students, as well as within the larger community.
On Sept. 22, an African woman, Immaculée Ilibagiza, shared her story of unbelievable courage with a packed audience in the Viterbo Fine Arts Center. Neighbors and friends, from near and far, young and old, joined with students to hear a powerful testimony of faith and forgiveness.
They heard what can happen when good people do nothing … when a nation and a world turn its back to hatred and evil. Immaculee's harrowing and riveting account of survival amid the atrocity known as the 1994 Rwandan genocide (over one million innocent people were slaughtered in just 100 days) raised anew persistent questions.
Where was a merciful God? Would justice ever be served? Could I have been as loving, forgiving, and courageous as Immaculée.
At age 24, Immaculée, experienced disbelief, anger, and betrayal as she survived the genocide by hiding for 91 days in a tiny, cramped 3'x4' bathroom with six other women and a young child. Her mother, father, two brothers, friends, neighbors, and all 700 students and staff left behind at her college were murdered.
Her reservoir of courage was filled through prayer, especially a rosary given to her by her father when he insisted she seek refuge with a local pastor. By embracing her faith in God, she found inner peace, which ultimately led to incredible acts of forgiveness and grace. She even forgave the ruined and imprisoned man who murdered her parents.
While in La Crosse for just one day, Immaculée tirelessly retold what happened in her life 14 years ago, knowing the power of witness. She met with the press, spoke to an honors class of Viterbo students, attended a reception with members of the La Crosse community, talked with high school students, and for more than an hour signed copies of her first book, “Left to Tell,” and her newest release — “Led by Faith.”
I am changed by this visit of this exceptional woman, similar to the way I felt two years ago when Nazi Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel shared his story with us. He emphasized that hatred must stop and must be treated as a contagious disease. Though this man suffered so much, he placed great trust in our young people.
In the context of the liberal arts, and with our emphasis on ethics and values and special programs offered through the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership, we ask: How do we teach inspiration? How do we model courage? How do we engender hope?
One way is to provide students an opportunity to meet, to see, and to hear such remarkable survivors as Elie Wiesel and Immaculee Ilibagiza. They are amazing sources of wisdom and courage who help us all deepen our wells of wisdom, increase our compassion, and heighten real learning.
Their voices ultimately invite more conversation and personal contemplation. A complete education takes us on pathways through the head, the heart and the soul; a journey to wholeness.
Rick Artman is president of Viterbo University.
