The Prospector (Helena, Mont.) 1916-2015, April 07, 2004, Image 12

Sister Dianna Ortiz Honored at Crosaint Lecture Doctor o f Humane Letters By Emily McVey Intern Reporter On Wed. March 24 Sister Dianna Ortiz was presented with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. The degree was presented by Dr. Thomas Trebon, President of Carroll College along with Annette Moran, Gene Croisant, Dr. John Hart and Dr. James Trudnowski. Sister Ortiz was being honored for her work with the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC). She co-founded the coalition in 1998. TASSC’s mission is to eliminate the practices of torture worldwide. The group bases its work on the knowledge that the stories of the survivors themselves make the biggest impact in bring­ ing about that change. During the 1980s, Guatemala was a very tense area as the ruling government carried out its “cam­ paign of terror”. A conflict that actually began in the 1950s left over 200,000 dead at the hands of their own government leaders. The United States had a hand in assisting those leaders. In 1989 Sister Ortiz was abduct­ ed and taken to a clandestine prison in Guatemala City. At the time she was living in Guatemala working in one of the Mayan vil­ lages teaching young children. During her imprisonment she was tortured, raped and forced to wit­ ness and take part in the brutal tor­ ture of others. The most vivid and dishearten­ ing moment for her came just moments after being raped; a prison guard turned to her and said, “Your God is dead”. Sister Ortiz felt at that moment that she too had died, at least in spirit. It is obviously still quite diffi­ cult for Sister Ortiz to share her story, the time she describes as “the darkest night of my soul”. She says that her “faith is like a candle’s flame, sometimes bright and strong and sometimes flicker­ ing as if it might go out”. Through it all she has kept a promise she made before she escaped from her prisoners. She vowed she would never forget the individuals in that prison who did not survive their torture. Looking for a quiet space to Study? Relax? Contemplate life? Catch some rays? The WELLNESS CENTER GROUP ROOM is open for student use Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. - Noon and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Come relax on the newly cleaned sofas (they will look familiar!), turn on the “happy lights” and just unwind. We’re located in the basement of Guad. Call 5441 for more information. We look forward to seeing You and all o f you Lounge Lizards. V _________________ _ ____________________ J Speaking out against the prac­ tices of torture and the govern­ ments that support those acts Sister Ortiz is able to keep that promise. She admits there is almost nothing that can help a tor­ ture survivor regain their trust in humankind. The main goal she and TASSC strive to achieve is to eliminate the practice of torture so that no person will ever have to experience it and therefore never have to overcome it. “The Blindfold’s Eye My Journey from Torture to Truth” is the memoirs written by Sister Ortiz about her experiences as a tortured prisoner and how she manages to live with her past every day. She “grieves the life she once lived, the life she could­ n’t remember and the person she was becoming because of torture”. Today she feels “stronger, more hopeful...(and) mindful of all she has carried”. Together with TASSC Sister Ortiz is out creating awareness about the evils that torture brings to the world. She asks what each of our moral responses will be to this new knowledge. In her opin­ ion, no one should be quiet about these atrocities, not individual cit­ izens, not the government and especially not the church. Sister Ortiz asks that we all join in the “holy rage against tor­ ture” as many of us have joined in on the war against terrorism. In her opinion “torture is a form of terrorism”. For more information on how to participate in this movement or for other information about TASSC access info@tassc.org, www.tassc.org or call (202) 529- 2991. TASSC is located at 4121 Harewood Road, NE Suite B in Washington D. C. 2001 7. Academic Resource Center Tutoring: Spring 2003 Joan Stottlemyer, Director SH 142, jstottle@carroll.edu, 447 - 4504 N o o n - 2 p.m . Writing (SH 145) M o n , W e d , T h 6 p.m . - 9 p.m . S u n - T h . Calc, and Physics 6 p.m . - 9 p.m . Math and Physics (SH 145) S u n - T h 2 p.m . - 5 p.m . T u - T h Stats 6 p.m . - 9 p.m . S u n - T h 6 p.m . - 8 p.m . Accounting and Economics (SH 143) M o n 3 p.m . - 5 p.m . W e d 7 p.m . - 9 p.m . Anatomy and Physiology (SH 231) T h N o o n - 2 p.m . Chemistry (SH145) Th 6 p.m . - 9 p.m . S u n , M o n , T u , T h 6 p.m . - 7 :3 0 p.m . W e d French 6 p.m . - 8 p.m . Foreign Languages (SH 145) Tu - W e d Spanish 7 p.m . - 9 p.m . T u - W e d 3 p.m . - 5 p.m . W e d Paul's Office Offering full selection of office supplies to Carroll and its students Located aexft to Pier I Import* WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2004 VOLUME 87, NO. 6