Sister Helen Prejean has been instrumental in continuing the national dialogue on the death penalty. Her book, Dead Man Walking, is based on her experience corresponding with and counseling Patrick Sonnier, a death row inmate who was executed in 1984. The book was nominated for a 1993 Pulitzer Prize and in ‘96 was made into a major motion picture written and directed by Tim Robbins and starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn.
Sister Prejean received an honorary degree from Marquette and spoke about her journey as an advocate to abolish the death penalty and the final emotion-charged hours she spent with Sonnier.
Sister Prejean’s visit was co-sponsored by the Centennial Celebration of Women at Marquette University. In 1909, Marquette became the first Catholic university in the world to admit women into its regular undergraduate program.
*Required fields
*Required fields
The Difference Network offers access of key thought leaders at Marquette University. New video content is added regularly.
Nelly Ortiz, "Why We Leave? A First Hand Account of Migration to the US." Dec 2nd
Television newscaster Gwen Ifill speaks at Nieman Symposium, Feb 4th
