On February 15, Tiffin University’s undergraduate chapter of the Ohio Innocence Project (OIP-u:TU) will feature a screening of “Spiz,” a documentary about the life and artwork of Dean Gillispie, who spent 20 years imprisoned for crimes he did not commit. Gillispie, the film’s director Barry Rowan and Pierce Reed of the OIP will lead a discussion following the film. The event will take place on campus at 7 p.m. in the Osceola Theatre. It is free and open to the public.
Gillispie was wrongfully charged and convicted with three counts of rape in the Dayton, Ohio area in the 1990s and ultimately spent two decades imprisoned. Following his 2011 release, he spent years working to clear his name. In December of 2021, Gillispie was officially declared a wrongfully imprisoned man by the state of Ohio and offered reparations.
Barry Rowen is a writer, director and editor based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. He has worked on projects for artists such as Halsey, Katy Perry, Jason Aldean and Rascal Flatts. In 2018, he premiered a short documentary about the Ohio Innocence Project at the Over-the-Rhine Film Festival.
Since his release, Gillispie has gained national recognition for his artwork. His pieces have been featured in prominent places such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, New York. A collection of his was also featured in TU’s Diane Kidd Art Gallery in 2017.
“TU has a special connection with Dean,” says Dr. Steven Hurwitz, Professor of Psychology and Criminal Justice and Faculty Advisor for OIP-u:TU. “During his 2017 exhibition on campus, several classes from across the University spoke with him at the gallery. Many students were touched by his story, so it will be a pleasure to have him back.”
The Ohio Innocence Project is the state’s only nonprofit organization dedicated to freeing the wrongfully imprisoned, and to the reformation of a justice system that would allow wrongful convictions to occur. Tiffin University is proud to house an undergraduate student chapter of an organization doing such impactful work.
For more information, visit facebook.com/OhioInnocenceProject.