Peace studies: the first program of its kind

At Manchester College, peace studies is far from being a head-in-the-clouds pursuit. Every day, our students grapple with tough, real-world issues of conflict and justice. Many students in other areas of study have had their life’s goals shaped by things they’ve encountered in peace studies courses.

For Nicci Small, Class of 2006, peace studies raised her awareness of Native American justice issues. She designed her own January session doing research on several reservations and now attends a law school that specializes in Native American legal affairs.

Then there’s Felix Lohitai, Class of 2008. A refugee from Sudan, Felix was forced into the army as a young boy. Now, he hopes to devote his life to peacemaking work in Africa. Manchester College has given Felix the opportunity to study in the U.S. But even more importantly, Felix has helped raise the consciousness
of fellow students by sharing his insights and ideas in the classroom.

Service
Manchester students, faculty and staff have a long tradition of community service. Last year alone, they logged 19,000 hours of service in a wide range of activities—from literacy projects to Habitat for Humanity.

Alicia Burkett, Class of 2007, for example, dropped everything for emergency relief. A biology-chemistry major, Alicia was asked to travel to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and assist with the Animal Relief Program. Day after day, from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m., she worked in sweltering heat cleaning cages and caring for the thousands of animals that were rescued from the streets of New Orleans. After her trip, Alicia not only knew she wanted to attend veterinary school, she knew she had a life-changing experience.

Faith
Manchester College is one of six colleges of the Church of the Brethren. While about 9 percent of the student body belongs to the denomination, Manchester welcomes students from all faith traditions. Spiritual growth is encouraged as a key part of the personal development that takes place here. Voluntary weekly chapel services bring community members together for worship and reflection, and the campus is home to a number of faith-based student organizations.