July, 2007
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a letter of introduction and of recommendation for John Corkery and Catherine Dagon, organizers of the Human Rights Awareness Tour. I have known both of them for approximately two years both as their teacher and as the Director of the Human Rights Minor Program at the University of Connecticut. I urge you to consider their proposal to host a week of human rights awareness at your institution.
John (J.R.) and Catherine (Cat) were central organizers of the “Human Rights Awareness (HRA) Week” at UCONN during the Spring semester, 2007. It was a richly varied, meticulously organized, and very meaningful and well-attended event. Indeed, I can honestly say it was one of the very best organized series of events I have witnessed in my 29 years at UCONN. They are talented and accomplished event organizers; J.R. has been organizing and administering a successful summer rock festival in Utah for the past several summers.
At UCONN, the HRA Week encompassed several events over five days, well coordinated with relevant offices on campus, including Dining Services, Security, and Facilities. J.R. and Cat secured venues, set them up, arranged food and drink where called for, and worked very well with campus security to ensure a very productive week. The activities included several human rights movies with discussion, two roundtables, a human rights coffee house, a full day human rights rock concert on Saturday, and, my personal favorite, a “No Sweat” human rights fashion show.
I cannot really emphasize enough how professionally planned and executed these events were. The movies started on time, the discussions were lively, the coffee house and fashion show were very well attended, meaningful, and just plain fun, and the rock concert was a big draw even in rather cool weather. Students’ comments throughout the HRA week and afterward were admiring and appreciative.
J.R. and Cat’s effort to take the HRA Week on the road is a serious effort in spreading the appeal and impact of human rights, and to attract more students into the work of human rights globally. This will be a memorable week on your campus, and I hope you will help them be invited to your institution.
Regards,
Richard P . Hiskes, Professor
Department of Political Science
Director, Human Rights Minor Program
Editor, Journal of Human Rights
(860) 486-2536