Introduction

Peace Studies Coordinator Reflection

From the Institute

Peace Studies Student Research and Articles

Each year as part of the requirements for graduation, seniors are asked to write a brief essay in which they identify the theme(s) that integrate peace studies courses into a cohesive curriculum and how this theme(s) has changed or reinforced their thinking about peace, justice, conflict studies, and violence. This essay is Dgenna Ulrich's response to the prompt.

Five years ago, a friend wrote me saying, “In words or on canvas, you are quite the artist, and good thing too, since only artists will change the world.” At that time, his words gave me the hope that what I have to offer through something as simple as paint, was powerful enough to incite change. Now, I have come to know that the power to change our communities comes not through any piece of artwork I create, but by inviting us into a place where the creativity present in each of us comes alive. It is my hope that the color on these walls invites you to imagine new possibilities that we might work toward together. --Kay, Fatou, Jubilee

Ishmael: An Interactive Adventure in American Civilization is a zine created for a Philosophy of Civilization class based on the popular book, Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Daniel Quinn. The zine is a creative combination of words and illustrations building on the book's theme of achieving environmental sustainability by changing the story culture enacts. It is my hope Captain Culture's adventure through American civilization awakens us to the ways we might change our own story.

The Genocide Convention is a colossal step in the right direction in terms of ideologically defining and condemning genocide. However, the definition it contains fails in many functions. The definition in practice fails to provide adequate protection for marginalized groups; even if intervention is possible, often it is tied down with restrictions and unable to actually protect the people it was set out to defend. The definition does not protect rights of certain minority groups, for instance political or socioeconomic groups; it only protects racial, ethnic, religious or national groups. Finally, it does not deter genocide because of problems in enforcement. It has no way of forcing the international community into action against genocide, as it has no mandate for military or political action.

In January 2013, six Manchester University students, one Peace Studies Coordinator, and one Peace Studies professor travelled to Haiti to learn about human rights work and democracy. With our Haitian hosts and friends, we travelled across the country, meeting with many different people and hearing powerful stories. This little book provides some of our reflections on these experiences.

Community Articles

Upon retirement, Judy Minnich Stout chose to join the Peace Corp. She spent her service term as an English teacher. This article shares a few of her experiences and reminds us how important it is for the West to become better aquinted with China.

Dr. Joel Eikenberry of North Manchester, who was a biology major in the audience when King addressed the crowd on “The Future of Integration,” set the scene for a unique rememberence of Dr. Martin Luther King's visit to the North Manchester campus 45 years ago with the remarks above. Professional re-enactor T. Leon Williams delivered excerpts from King’s speech and put King's message into context with today's times. For more information on the event, please click here.