Waite addresses graduates at Redgranite Correctional Institution
February 05, 2009 | Volleyball
On Monday, University of Wisconsin volleyball coach Pete Waite addressed a group of graduates in the Restorative Justice Program at Redgranite Correctional Institution in Redgranite, Wis. The Restorative Justice Program is a three-month course, which helps offenders understand the ripple effect of their crimes. Waite was the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony for 20 participants of the program. After the ceremony, Waite toured the prison.
In his blog below, Waite writes about his day and the rewards he achieved from the visit.
About a month ago, I got an invitation from Chaplain Deborah Mejchar of the Redgranite Correctional Institution to be the keynote speaker at a graduation ceremony for some of the prisoners.
Redgranite is a medium security prison about two hours northeast of Madison with more than 1,000 inmates. Twenty men had completed a three-month course called the Restorative Justice Program, which was created by the Reverend Jerry Hancock of the First Congregational Church in Madison. The Restorative Justice Program helps offenders know that there is a ripple effect to crime regarding their families, the victims and their families, and the community. On Monday, I had the privilege of being part of the ceremony, hearing some of the prisoners' testimonies and speaking to their families, the program's volunteers and the prisoners.
In my talk with the graduates, I compared some of the things we do with our team with how they can live their lives. I asked each of them to share their ideas about what it takes to be a champion and I was very impressed by their thoughts and comments. They touched on energy, enthusiasm, dedication, focus, confidence and consistency. They mentioned how they need to strive for those things in their own lives while in prison so they can be ready to succeed when they are released back into the community. They were very proud that they had completed this program and it seemed to have really changed how many of them view their world and their circumstances.
Following the ceremony I was given a tour of the entire prison and it opened my eyes to a world we usually only see in movies. The men who live at the prison endure this world every day and some were there for life terms. I was impressed that they are required to attend three classes every day, had a library and computer lab, and a gymnasium as well as doctors and dentists on site.
The prison is fairly new, but by no means was it plush. I was able to go into one of the cells and I could stretch out my arms and touch both walls. That's a cell for two men, bunk beds and a desk. The personal items that they are allowed have to fit in a bin which is about two feet by three feet.
You know you're in prison from the moment you pass through security and see the 15-foot fences with barbed wire at the top. I walked among the prisoners and was impressed by their positive attitudes considering the situation they were in.
In all, it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and I'm glad that I accepted their invitation. It helped me appreciate all that we have here at the university and in Madison, while at the same time gaining a tremendous amount of respect for the men who are trying to turn their lives around. They face many more challenges than we will ever see in the sports arena.
