Today, I was contacted by an LSU employee who's writing a piece on Gamma Zeta lectureship for a scholarly publication called the Journal of College and Character.
You can imagine my surprise that three months later, we're still getting recognition for our second lectureship. But then again, should I be surprised? It was absolutely incredible and heartrending, after all.
For those who may not have had the opportunity to attend, Gamma Zeta hosted its second Delta Gamma Foundation Lectureship in Values and Ethics featuring New York Times best-seller and inspiration for the film 127 Hours Aron Ralston. We overflowed an auditorium seating 1,200 who were eagerly awaiting the free event on campus.
If you haven't seen the movie, he survived the impossible after being trapped for almost a week by a half-ton boulder, with seemingly no hope for survival. He severed his own arm with a pocketknife to save his life and began hiking to his survival when helicopter rescuers discovered him.
Losing an arm was a small sacrifice for Ralston after initially believing he had no chance for survival at all. Ralston hasn't let this setback stop him from doing what he loves. He has continued his outdoorsman life without hesitation and became the only person with a disability to ski from the summit of Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. He also became the first amputee to row his own raft through the Grand Canyon.
Thinking back to the 1,200+ people who packed the LSU Union Theatre to hear his unimaginable experience told first hand reminds me of one of the reasons Delta Gamma truly stands "for hope, for strength, for life." I hope Ralston's story continues to inspire people to never give up, no matter what the circumstance, and I could not feel more privileged to have taken part in bringing him to the LSU community.
See you next time!
