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St. Cloud State University
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Commentary
Peace Week encourages
Published:
Thursday, November 7, 2002
SCSU has a number of special focus weeks. Domestic Violence Week, Coming Out Week, Alcohol Awareness Week and Homecoming Week. This week’s focus is peace.
Peace Week, sponsored by over 17 SCSU student organizations and universities across the nation, aims to promote peaceful alternatives to war. This, however, is not the only reason for the week.
Special focus weeks, such as this, have several purposes.
The first is to spread awareness. With such a diverse population on campus, there are a multitude of perspectives. Through weeks such as these, people are able to share their opinions, beliefs, concerns and cultures through a public venue.
Another purpose is to arouse interest. The campus community is invited to participate in activities organized by students and groups. Speakers, rallies, demonstrations and kiosks all offer the community an opportunity to learn about each week’s highlighted issue.
Perhaps the most significant goal of the informational weeks is to provide the community with a forum to discuss the various topics presented. By encouraging feedback, the weeks’ sponsors and the public benefit. New perspectives are explored in these settings and misconceptions are often debunked.
The impact the week has on the community ultimately determines its degree of success. Awareness, interest and discussion create a more tolerant and understanding campus atmosphere.
Peace Week offers the community not only a chance to improve SCSU’s environment by informing the public of the effects of war, but also to participate in a nationwide debate.
By understanding war and its implications, students are able to make educated decisions before taking a stance on the issue.
Students should take this opportunity to get involved in their campus, voice their beliefs and perhaps influence others in the process.
