Peace begins at home

Loyola students drive week-long Peace Conference to spark creative solutions

By: Lizzy Margiotta

Posted: 3/13/09

As universities remain centers for progressive and creative thought, Loyola students take advantage of their resources to produce a conference dedicated to peace. During the week of March 23, the inaugural Peace Conference aims to educate the public on creative solutions to current issues. The conference hopes to spark innovative conversations and promote dedication to a more peaceful future.

"We have a lot of bright minds on campus and we want everyone to utilize them. Our campus is pretty free and diverse," conference chairwoman and pre med/biology senior Danish Siddiqui said. "This conference is aimed to getting people together and raising awareness."

The Peace Conference (also known as Peace Week) is entirely run by students except for a little extra help from history professors Behrooz Moazami and Judith Hunt, and Roger White, associate professor of political science and Vice Provost of Academic Affairs.

As the faculty adviser and facilitator, White aims not so much to lead, but to help student leadership to emerge. Students continue to showcase their leadership skills by running two main committees: research and dialogue. Around 20 students are active in these committees, while handfuls of other students do their part in a variety of ways.
Peace Week will feature artistic performances, student presentations, seminars and lectures all exploring diverse outlooks on peace. "We want to include art, literature, and other areas of a liberal society," said White.

As noted from a campus-wide Blackboard announcement, the conference board asked for student submissions. They encouraged any form of expression pertaining, but not limited, to the issue of peace and conflict.
Students stepped up to plate by submitting dozens of abstracts, revealing diverse, yet creative solutions on the matter. Subjects range from inner peace, music's impact on peace, water wars and hydropolitics, U.S foreign policy, combating terrorism, bringing stability to Haiti, to the lack of unity in the United States. "There were really diverse papers. I am impressed on the number of submissions, and the broad spectrum of ideas," said Siddiqui.

Clarity, content, originality and subject matter were key deciding factors in which submissions were chosen. Accepted students will present during the conference, and research papers will be published. These presentations will be divided into "blocks" organized by categories such as "The Middle East." The Department of History will also be giving out two prizes worth $250 to elected research papers.

"We are also bringing in local speakers that have been involved in community renewal in New Orleans. A lot of the crime here is due to income, class, economics, bad education and public services," said White.

"This is why we have adopted the underlying theme 'peace begins at home.' We won't just be talking about the Middle East, Gaza, Iran, India, but also dealing with the factors we encounter on a regular basis right here."

"Peace begins at home" will weave through the conference, emphasizing the importance of fixing problems close to home before advancing further.

"If we understand here and now we can take that knowledge with us wherever we go, and may be able to understand where people are coming from," said Brian Parks, dialogue committee chairman.

Keynote speaker Liz McCartney, CNN's Hero of the Year, embodies the conference's theme through her volunteer efforts here in New Orleans. McCartney started the nonprofit St. Bernard Project, which helped to rebuild St. Bernard parish. Her organization has helped over 120 families to move home, and has assisted so many affected by Katrina get back on their feet.

Barbara Martinez Jittner, expert speaker on Maquiladoras and Femicide, will speak on women's rights, a topic pervading the week. Women and their working conditions will also appear throughout papers and presentations.
"Mexican labor is cheaper labor for producing goods for the United States, working conditions are bad, and many of the workers are women," said White.

Hoping to unite with other schools, Loyola's Peace Conference members keep high hopes in becoming bigger in years to come. Not a completely new idea, Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles recently had a Peace Jam, revealing a common interest in the Jesuit community.
"We are focused on Loyola at this point, but if we can do this right then next year we want to set up a network around colleges and universities devoted to creative solutions to conflict resolutions," said White.

"Hopefully, we can make it a global network, and step by step, we will get intelligent people of good will, sharing creative ideas."

Through speakers, presentations, and performances, the Peace Conference aims to spark positive and creative conversations around campus. Started for peace, held together by peace, and driven by peace, members involved with the Peace Conference's reveal passionate motives from Loyola's community.

Schedule for Event Speakers

Monday, March 23:

- Liz McCartney, St. Bernard Project, CNN
Person of the Year, 7 p.m.,
Satchmos

Tuesday, March 24:

- Coleman McCarthy, Center for Teaching Peace and Non-Violence, 7 p.m.,
Satchmos

Wednesday, March 25:

- Barbara Martinez Jittner, Expert Speaker on
Maquiladoras and Femicide, 7 p.m.,
Audubon Room

Thursday, March 26:

- Charles Anderson, United for Peace in New
Orleans, 7 p.m.,
Satchmos

- Peace Quad Activities

- 1718 presentation

- Peace Concerts

- United for Peace in New Orleans, Mothers

- Candle Vigil

Friday, March 27:

- MFA Music Fest, Peace Quad; 3:30 - 8 p.m.

-"The Trojan Women," Lower Depths Theater, 8 p.m.

Schedule for Student Papers

All students will present during a 4 - 6 p.m. timeslot Monday through Friday.

Monday, March 23:
1. "His View Don't Face That Way.
That's Speculation."
2. "Peace of the Mind"
3. "Musical Occupation; Ending Violence Through Song"

Tuesday, March 24:
1. "Children are the future"
2."Recognizing and Utilizing the Luxury of Concern"
3. "The Pursuit of Equality"
4. "Clash of Civilizations"

Wednesday, March 25:
1. "The Importance of Peace in War: A Discussion of the 'Rules' of War"
2. "Evolution of Democracy in Japan"
3. "Daw Suu Kyi and the Struggle for a Democratic Burma"
4. "Organic Justice"

Thursday, March 26:
1."The Humanity Factor"
2. "Is Islam a Peaceful Religion?"
3. "Hatred in the Name of Love"
4. "NATO-Necessary Anti-Terror Organization"

Friday, March 27:
1. "Peace Through Arms"
2. "Feminization of Policy: Female Leadership as an Intervention of War"
3. "Water World: 71%"