2008 Woodie Awards
Shiavo's brother to share his story at RC next week
Molly Maillette, Staff Writer
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In less than a week, a man whose name is becoming known internationally will be stepping foot on the Ripon campus.
Bobby Schindler, the brother of Terri Schiavo, whose public death caused a media frenzy last year, will share his experience with his sister's death and the larger issue of euthanasia Tuesday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m.
His speech will be held in Great Hall and is sponsored by Ripon College Right to Life.
Former Right to Life President junior SinŽad Devlin met Schindler at a pro-life camp sponsored by Wisconsin Right to Life last summer. Knowing that she would be the leader of Ripon College Right to Life the following year, Devlin took the opportunity to invite Schindler to campus.
"He's the closest person to Terri Schiavo," Devlin says. "Getting him to come to Ripon College to talk about his sister is like getting President Bush to come and talk about his administration. He's the first-hand source."
Just over a year ago the name Terri Schindler-Schiavo became a constant media topic when her family and husband fought both in and out of court whether to remove her feeding tube and pro-life groups rallied to save the woman who was deemed "in a vegetative state" by media reports.
"[It's about] protecting all life," Schindler says of his upcoming presentation. "[I want to] hopefully explain to people that we can't determine quality of life or discriminate those with disabilities. Disability doesn't make us different from anyone else."
Schindler says he is excited about talking on a campus because he normally addresses pro-life audiences.
"Sometimes I prefer to talk to those who don't agree with me because those are the people to get to, to change their ideas," Schindler says.
Devlin feels having Schindler on campus will spark some students to have conversation among themselves.
"The biggest problem we always face is this concrete apathy that people let harden in their hearts," Devlin says. "I believe Bobby's coming will plant seeds [comparable to] planting an oak next to a sidewalk. Eventually the root will crack it into pieces."
Some of the students on campus share similar excitement, regardless of where they may stand on the political issues to be addressed.
"We generally have a very politically active campus," says sophomore Megan Calder. "I feel like that kind of information, especially presented in a biased manner, will get a lot of campus to go."
President of Ripon College Democrats first year Lee Homan feels that people should attend Schindler's presentation no matter where they stand on the issues politically.
"I am planning on attending the event," says Homan. "Even though I don't have the same political stance as the speaker, I cannot be truly educated about my own political ideals without knowing my opponent's argument."
Sophomore Adam Hetz will not be able to attend, but also feels that it would be a good event for people to go to. He says that seeing an obviously biased stance on an issue is the best way to understand the other side.
"Everyone has bias, and that is why it is interesting to see speakers come to Ripon," he says. "It is expected that Right to Life would bring a [biased] speaker, just as it would be expected for the College Democrats to bring in a biased liberal. As long as the opposition is not disregarded, there is nothing wrong with having a bias."
After Schindler's speech, he will take audience questions, which may provide a forum for some challenges to his views.
Once the official question-and-answer session is over, Devlin says refreshments will be provided as a way to encourage students to stick around and talk with and question Schindler on a one-to-one basis.
Director of Media and Public Relations Scott Wilson has been contacting media outlets from cities including Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and Fond du Lac to cover the story before Schindler comes to campus.
From the media publicity, Wilson hopes to get as many people in Great Hall as possible.
He feels students should attend because Schindler will be talking about issues that may affect many of the students on campus.
"I would hope [students] understand that they should come to this because they may be the ones making decisions for their parents or other family members," he says. "It will be a great night and something that will spark some real interest."