Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE

Media Credit: Stan Ascher Mark Zupan speaks to students, faculty and staff Tuesday evening in the Silver Eagle Suite of the University Union about his experiences of being an athelete after a car accident took away his ability to walk.

NT welcomed Mark Zupan, star of the award-winning documentary "Murderball" and captain of the United States Quad Rugby Team, for a screening of the film and a chance to connect to students.

Sponsored by the Office of Disability Accommodation, the Tuesday screening was followed by a lecture from Zupan, who discussed the film and the struggles he has overcome in his own life before signing copies of his best-selling autobiography, "Gimp: When Life Deals You a Crappy Hand, You Can Fold- or You Can Play."

"Murderball" is an award-winning 2005 Sundance Film Festival documentary that follows quadriplegics playing wheelchair rugby and focuses on the rivalry between the U.S. and Canadian teams leading up to the 2004 Paralympic Games.

Ron Venable, director of the Office of Disability Accommodation, said he felt a screening of "Murderball" followed by a lecture from Zupan would be something interesting and relevant for NT students as March is National Disability Awareness Month.

"The stuff that they tackle in this film is realistic stuff that somebody, after they start using a wheelchair, has to deal with," Venable said. "It goes into all the adjustments that people have to undertake after a spinal cord injury and talks about those areas that you don't see addressed very often."

An eye-opening aspect of the film is that athletes on the quadriplegic wheelchair rugby team are as competitive as any other type of athlete, Venable said.

"The guys in the film talk a lot about Special Olympics and how that's almost a dirty word to them because there is nothing special about what they're doing," Venable said. "They are full-on, hard-core athletes."

Randy Batiste, associate director of the Office of Disability Accommodation, thinks the film is gritty, gutsy and original, making it a good concept for NT and the community, he said.

"Folks with disabilities still have the same aspirations, goals, career plans and competitiveness as everyone else. People are people," Batiste said. "I think when people see this, they will realize there's not much of a difference there. There's difference in how we get there, but not much of a difference otherwise. "

Lauren Avina, a Fort Worth junior who attended the screening and lecture, said the event was unique and inspirational.

"It's good to see that they took something so tragic in their lives and turned it around for the better," Avina said. "It's eye-opening; it puts everything into perspective and how quickly things can change."

Venable said he hopes students left the event with a better understanding of people with disabilities and the realization that life doesn't end because of a disability.

"Other doors open and there are other opportunities and ways to pursue your goals, and that's what our office is all about, making sure students have access," Venable said. "It's not about an advantage; it's about having a level playing field so you can reach your goals like everyone else."

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