Family of Otto Warmbier to return to Grounds for the first time since their son Otto's death

[mahatmakanejeeves]

News

Family of Otto Warmbier to return to Grounds for the first time since their son Otto’s death

A variety of speakers will discuss Otto’s life, as well as the lessons that can be learned from his passing

By Zach Rosenthal
April 26, 2022

More than six years ago, Otto Warmbier, a then-third-year Commerce student, Echols Scholar and member of Theta Chi fraternity, was arrested in North Korea on an official tour of the country after the North Korean government accused him of stealing a political banner. After spending 17 months imprisoned in North Korea, Otto was returned to the United States in a state of “unresponsive wakefulness” and died a week later.

Now, for the first time since their son’s death, Otto’s parents Cindy and Fred Warmbier are returning to the University. As the fifth anniversary of Otto’s death approaches, the Warmbiers will return for a speaking panel on what lessons can be gleaned from Otto’s death. ... Think Again, a faculty-led program within the College of Arts and Sciences that promotes free speech and open discussion, is hosting the event.

Speakers at the event include Billy Burgess, one of Warmbier’s best friends at the University and Class of 2017 alumnus, Yeonmi Park, prominent North Korean defector currently living in the U.S., and Law Prof. Sai Prakash. The panel is open to the public and will be held at Nau Hall Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Gerard Alexander, associate professor of politics and director of Think Again, says those who attend the event will learn not only about Warmbier’s story, but how important rights and liberties are. ... “Maybe it comes across as a little bit preachy, but I think those of us who live our whole lives in democracies tend to just assume the respect of our rights and liberties,” Alexander said. “To the extent that they're honored, and respected and enforced, we just assume that that's how life is.”

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[CurtEastPoint]

1. 'Grounds' refers to UVA. Didn't know that.

[Yonnie3]

2. Yep, Grounds rather than campus.

also "First Year" not Freshman, "Second Year" not Sophomore, etc.

[hlthe2b]

3. I'm sorry for his traumatic death. I'm angry so many travel authoritarian countries wiithout FIRST

educating themselves (or having their university if a sponsored trip, or associated sponsor as with WNBA star Griner) fully educate them on what they must NOT do to remain safe while traveling these countries. Having worked in several such countries, I listened intently when counseled about how to approach such potentially regressive policies. Years ago when Iran was open to US business, the teens of several families went over and either were not appropriately counseled or, like their parents who sometimes flouted cultural differences, decided to push the envelope. At the time even a mildly critical comment of the country of the Shah-- scrawled on a postcard could be picked up by Iranian security causing at least embarrassment or banishment. Teens who engaged in any kind of drug behavior with local Iranian kids found themselves (and parents) on the first plane out only to hear those Iranian kids were found dead in the desert. Those were not just stories concocted to scare kids and other travelers... but if they did scare them into being cautious, all the better.

Cross-cultural respect is something travelers need to learn to be good citizens. But in authoritarian or repressive countries, it goes so far beyond this and one violates those norms and expectations at your own risk.