Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 1982)
Looking to new horizons A degenerative eye disease "popped out of nowhere" dur ing his early teen years in Mis sissippi, and Robert Darby was sent to a school for the blind to deal with the problem "When I came back, my mother said Oh, my poor baby,”' remembers Darby, now a 34 year-old first year law student "I said secretly, to my self 'to hell with that shit ' Em pathy yes, pity no." With the help of a Seeing Eye dog, Darby travels around cam pus with more purpose of movement than most sighted people "I appear to have a very ser ious expression about me," says Darby. "I'm big, I'm tall When I correct a dog, it tends to stand out in a person's mind I carry myself in such a way that says hey. I'm confident about where I'm going ' ” Throughout the past decade Darby and his dog have become a common sight around cam pus He completed a master’s degree in English Literature at the University, and had sub stantial work completed towards his doctorate before financial problems forced him to drop out ‘I carry myself in a way that says ‘I’m confident.’* Darby relies heavily on readers and pre-recorded ma terial to do his studying Braille is generally too bulky and ex pensive to have a practical ap plication Beyond the obvious barriers of being sightless, Darby has met with little opposition in his decision to enter law school "The kind of support I've had from the faculty, staff and students has just been incredi ble," he says "They have been acutely aware of my need to be prepared They have essentially said you ve got the ball If you run with it, we ll block for you, but you have to run ' " Darby hasn't let his handicap stop him from living a full life The father of three children, two of whom share his West Eugene apartment, Darby has worked in professions ranging from janitor to artist's model A strong advocate of han dicapped and minority rights, he has been involved with such organizations as the Oregon Council for the Blind, Oregon Architectural Barriers Council, Campus Planning Committee, Eugene Human Rights Council, Lane County Affirmative Action Council to the Commissioners, VISTA Volunteer Review Board and as a director of ALERT Dealing with sudden blind ness didn't come easily for Darby "In March of 1965. my eye sight really hit the cellar," says Darby "At the time, I had the lead part in a three-act play I couldn t read it, and I finally became so frustrated I went up to the director and said I can't learn this ' She asked me why I couldn't, and I said because I can’t read it She said yes, but why can't you learn it7’ " “I did learn it, and the play was a great success.' says Darby I said to myself, the sky's the limit from now on ' That philosophy and a cane got Darby around well enough until 1974, when he was struck by a car ■sum This is the first year of law school for Robert Darby and his Seeing Eye dog 'Eagan." seated in front of the University law school in the top photo Above, the pair search tor texts in the law school library, then Darby chats with a friend while "Eagen" manages a brief nap "After some counciling and some self-evaluation, I came to realize that a cane no longer afforded me the security I need ed," says Darby His Seeing Eye dog is the third he has had since January of 1975 The first one died of kidney failure after being with Darby five years, the second one became too easily distract ed and would run over pedes trians and lead Darby into ob structions ‘I said to myself, ’the sky's the limit from now on." "All the sudden I'd walk right into a cement post,'' says Darby "Eventually I just lost con fidence in him A dog does about 95 percent of the work in that situation, and if you can t trust him, you're gone " His current dog is known as "Eagen" around the law school But it doesn't answer to that name because an unthinking friend might call out a greeting to the dog in traffic Such a distraction can have disastrous results, and even tually ruin what is a $20,000 to $25,000 investment Tentatively, maritime law is among Darby's career goals. He decided to enter law school because "one of the things I've always wanted to know is how to answer questions legally, he says But his schooling might not be over when he gets his de gree He says he might then pursue an interest in computer science "From day one, I've always been motivated to do these kinds of things." says Darby "Really, the only problem with being blind is not being able to see Story by Sean Meyers Photos by Bob Baker
