Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Will Visit U of M Feb. 22

For release: February 12, 2008
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

Rigoberta Menchú Tum Photo courtesy PeaceJam Foundation.

Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum will speak at the University of Memphis February 22 at 4 p.m. in the Michael D. Rose Theatre. The event is free and open to the public.

Menchú is an indigenous Guatemalan of the Quiché-Maya ethnic group. She has dedicated her life to publicizing the plight of Guatemala's indigenous peoples during and after the Guatemalan Civil War and to promoting indigenous rights in the country.

A UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Menchú was the recipient of the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize and the 1998 Prince of Asturias Award. She is the subject of the testimonial biography, I, Rigoberta Menchú, and the author of the autobiographical work, Crossing Borders.

Menchú's visit to campus is sponsored by the Student Activities Council.