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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