International peace focus of conference at Lander in March
Publ. Date: February 27, 2009
Writer: dlorenz@lander.edu
Office of University Relations and Publications
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Dr. Lucas McMillan, assistant professor of political science at Lander University, left, and Connie Edwards, president of the Greenwood chapter of People to People International, read over the agenda for the Peace Studies Conference that will be held at Lander on Saturday, March 14. The conference is free and open to the public. |
Lander University will host a Peace Studies Conference sponsored by the Greenwood and Lander chapters of People to People International (PTPI), on Saturday, March 14, from 9 am to 2:30 pm. The program is free and open to the public and will be held at locations in Lander's Grier Student Center.
Topics to be discussed will include the problems of international cooperation, events in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe, working in the Peace Corps, the making of modern Germany and democratization in Eastern Europe, the United Nations and college students' concepts of peace.
Connie Edwards, president of People to People International in Greenwood, said the conference is designed to make the community aware of the historical perspectives of peace and to provide more information about the organization itself.
Edwards was instrumental in starting the Greenwood chapter last year and said it was the first PTPI chapter in the Southeast. There is now one other in Atlanta.
She also helped organize the Lander chapter, which will be chartered at the March 14 conference; it has 14 members.
Dr. Lucas McMillan, assistant professor of political science at Lander, is co-chairing the conference with Edwards and is the faculty adviser to the university chapter. He envisions the chapter becoming involved in examining topics related to peace studies and working in tandem with the Greenwood chapter and other groups. "I hope we can build on the March 14 conference and, in the future, involve faculty and students from other institutions."
Lander president Dr. Daniel Ball said, "When people of the world decide to use their talents, their cultures, their resources, their compassion and creativity to improve the human condition as one, extraordinary accomplishments will follow. What better way to advance such an idea than to engage in People to People International."
The Greenwood chapter recently established a "Peace Studies Scholarship" at Lander, and the organization plans to continue to contribute to it.
"This is a growth year for People to People International in Greenwood," said Edwards. She compared it to gardening. "We are sowing the seeds today and hope within three years it will grow and become really outstanding."
President Dwight Eisenhower created PTPI with the goal of enhancing international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities. The focus is on the exchange of ideas and experiences among people of different countries and diverse cultures.
There are chapters in 134 countries, and they support several projects including a global landmine initiative, which involves the dangerous task of finding and disarming mines left over from wars and other conflicts in a number of countries.
At the conference, Edwards will speak about the history and activities of PTPI, and McMillan will be among the seven current or retired Lander faculty members on the agenda to make presentations. Also scheduled to speak are Dr. Deborah Acorn, professor of psychology; Dr. Joel Cleland, professor of history emeritus; Dr. Kenneth Mufuka, professor of history; Dr. Nancy Niles, assistant professor of business and a former Peace Corps volunteer in Africa; Dr. Jean Paquette, professor of history; and Dr. Charles Stowe, dean of Lander's College of Business and Public Affairs.
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