The Sandspur

Issue date: 10/2/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Ryan Walls Students gather together on Mills Lawn to celebrate peace.

On September 21, over 150 students, faculty and staff participated in the United Nation's International Day of Peace by wearing white and forming a human peace sign. The event was organized by Imapct in conjunction with the Global Peace Film Festival, which wrapped up its week long event later that evening with the film "Down the Rabbit Hole".

"There are so many terrible things in the world, and it's good to take a moment and recognize that," said Jordan Ward, who is the Graduate Assistant that works with Impact. "I was inspired by that quote, 'to the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.' One person can make a difference."

The event took place during the lunch hour, and included music, food, drinks and free items. A book about peace and a CD that included songs from around the world were two of the items being given to all who attended.

Some RCCs signed their classes up to attend in order to receive points for the RCC cup that is going on all semester. Dr. Newcomb's Debates about Free Speech RCC was one of the classes in attendance.

"I think peace is all about people getting together with no violence, helping each other and all the good things in life," said Mai-han Nquyen, a freshman in Dr. Newcomb's RCC. "Today is all about peace."

Martin Luther King said, "Peace is more precious than diamonds, or silver or gold."

The United Nations instituted the International Day of Peace in 1981, although it was not observed until the opening of the General Assembly in 1982. The UN created this day "to devote a specific time to concentrate the efforts of the United Nations and its Member States, as well as of the whole of mankind, to promoting the ideals of peace and to giving positive evidence of their commitment to peace in all viable ways...[The International Day of Peace] should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples."

In 2001, the UN amended the resolution and added a few new ideas including one that is an extremely important aspect of this resolution - an international cease fire. For 24 hours, the world is to practice a day of nonviolence.

Among the many attendees was Charlie Stuart, who is the Democratic candidate running in the November 2006 election for U.S. Congress' District Eight in the House of Representatives. "America is at a very important time in its history and I'm out here for the same reason that I'm running for Congress," said Stuart, who was born and raised in Orlando. "It's time for people in our government to address the issues, and what is more important than peace?"

Not all in attendance agreed with Stuart's appearance on Mills Lawn. "I don't support Charlie Stuart's presence at this event," said Shannon Post, who is the President of the Rollins College Democrats. "This is a nonpartisan event, and although he is a Democrat, I don't think he should have spoken."

Despite some student's irritation at Stuart's appearance, his speech evoked applause from the large crowd. In Stuart's short address, he defined peace as more than the "the absence of war, but also the presence of hope." After the program, Stuart walked around the crowd and talked to the attendees and thanked many of them for coming to the event to demonstrate their vocal and visual statement towards peace in our world.

Overall, Impact viewed the event as a success. To learn more about Impact and other groups on campus, students can visit the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, located in Chase Hall.

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