Spring Break
Jammin' for peace
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Forum
This weekend, hundreds of high school and middle school students from all over the West Coast stood in applause of a man whose words hadn't yet been made clear. They stood before his translator had made his meaning clear. Adolfo Pérez Esquivel speaks Spanish and his words rang true.
"Gracias," he said at the conclusion of his speech. Amazingly many of the words prior to his ending made sense anyway, even though they were in a language foreign to many of those in attendance of the annual PeaceJam event.
Being members of student media, members of our staff were asked to photograph PeaceJam. The event featured speakers, Esquivel (the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize winner) and group activities for those registered to attend.
Students, some as young as 13 and 14, asked for peace. They asked for understanding and they proved they are making strides to eliminate the marginalization, racism and misunderstanding that is happening in their schools.
For us, our photographs weren't really enough to capture the spirit of those participating - though we tried.
Hands, extended or clasped together, were used to signal a flow of positive energy.
Signs, posters and masks were used to explain the programs that many students have already put into place at their high schools and middle schools.
We started thinking: What are we doing at OSU? What programs have we implemented to remove misunderstanding, promote education and eliminate passive or aggressive racism and marginalization from our campus?
There's a meeting here, a program there or an event at a cultural center. That is something.
But what are we missing? We are missing the participation, the buy-in. We need people in the seats of each of those discussions taking an active role in what happens on our campus.
Eliminating passive forms of marginalization and racism is key. That takes thoughtful actions and active thoughts on the part of OSU's students.
Examination of prejudice and preconceived notions on the part of all students is critical to the continuing understanding of the cultures that merge on our campus. It is also critical to making OSU a welcoming place for students from lands far and near.
We must fix our campus, before we can reach to other nations and offer a hand.
While the students at PeaceJam conference are raising dollars for Darfur and Sudan, we ask you join us in taking a look at ourselves, each of our behaviors and our contributions. It can be as small as working to recognize your misconceptions.
Peace starts with a willingness to learn.
Editorials serve as a platform for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
"Gracias," he said at the conclusion of his speech. Amazingly many of the words prior to his ending made sense anyway, even though they were in a language foreign to many of those in attendance of the annual PeaceJam event.
Being members of student media, members of our staff were asked to photograph PeaceJam. The event featured speakers, Esquivel (the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize winner) and group activities for those registered to attend.
Students, some as young as 13 and 14, asked for peace. They asked for understanding and they proved they are making strides to eliminate the marginalization, racism and misunderstanding that is happening in their schools.
For us, our photographs weren't really enough to capture the spirit of those participating - though we tried.
Hands, extended or clasped together, were used to signal a flow of positive energy.
Signs, posters and masks were used to explain the programs that many students have already put into place at their high schools and middle schools.
We started thinking: What are we doing at OSU? What programs have we implemented to remove misunderstanding, promote education and eliminate passive or aggressive racism and marginalization from our campus?
There's a meeting here, a program there or an event at a cultural center. That is something.
But what are we missing? We are missing the participation, the buy-in. We need people in the seats of each of those discussions taking an active role in what happens on our campus.
Eliminating passive forms of marginalization and racism is key. That takes thoughtful actions and active thoughts on the part of OSU's students.
Examination of prejudice and preconceived notions on the part of all students is critical to the continuing understanding of the cultures that merge on our campus. It is also critical to making OSU a welcoming place for students from lands far and near.
We must fix our campus, before we can reach to other nations and offer a hand.
While the students at PeaceJam conference are raising dollars for Darfur and Sudan, we ask you join us in taking a look at ourselves, each of our behaviors and our contributions. It can be as small as working to recognize your misconceptions.
Peace starts with a willingness to learn.
Editorials serve as a platform for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
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