In its fourth year, Davis Projects for Peace, is an invitation to undergraduates at the American colleges and universities in the Davis United World College Scholars Program to design grassroots projects that they will implement during the summer of 2010. The projects judged to be the most promising and do-able will be funded at $10,000 each. The objective is to encourage and support today’s motivated youth to create and tryout their own ideas for building peace.  All St. Lawrence students are encouraged to write a grant proposal to develop your ideas for creating peace.

The Davis Projects for Peace Competition is made possible by Kathryn Wasserman Davis, an accomplished internationalist and philanthropist, who hopes to “bring new thinking to the prospects of peace in the world.”

Students planning to apply to the competition MUST contact Carol Smith in the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (csmith@stlawu.edu; x5574) by October 30, 2009, to sign up.  Students seeking guidance for the proposal writing process are also welcome to contact Professor Laura Rediehs at lrediehs@stlawu.edu; x5457 or Devon Murphy Stein at dstein@stlawu.edu; x5578

Students with general queries may also contact any member of the Selection Committee for more information:

Kathleen Buckley, University Chaplain, kbuckley@stlawu.edu; x5256
Elun Gabriel, Assistant Professor of History, egabriel@stlawu.edu; x5149
Shelley McConnell, Assistant Professor of Government, smcconnell@stlawu.edu; x5218
Devon Murphy Stein, Corporate & Foundation Relations, dstein@stlawu.edu; x5578

Tip for Shaping Your Proposal:

Successful proposals have a sustainable impact.  As you work to conceptualize and plan a project, realize that the projects funded are generally grassroots projects that have a long-lasting impact on the community where they are carried out.  To see reports of projects carried out with support from the Davis 100 Projects for Peace program, visit: http://www.davisprojectsforpeace.org/projects.php?type=PFP
For more information on this opportunity, we urge you to visit the program website, where details on the proposal format can be viewed:  http://www.davisprojectsforpeace.org/qanda.php

All final proposals will be due by January 27, 2010 to: Devon Murphy Stein at dstein@stlawu.edu or 11 Maple Street.  Her phone number is x5578.

St. Lawrence’s Contemporary Issues Forum in 2009-2010 focuses on the theme of Civil Rights and Social Justice.  Faculty, students and alumni were invited to team up for panel discussions on topics that contribute to exploration of our theme.  Open to all.

October 23, 2009, 2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Planning for Peace and Justice
Richardson 15

Peace only lasts where justice prevails, because injustice creates the suffering and anger that can grow into violent conflict.  But how is justice built?  Some theorists, such as Gene Sharp, argue that only nonviolent action has the power to transform an unjust structure of power into a just one.  Violence, in contrast, often only serves to keep unjust and oppressive systems in place.  Another theorist, Helena Meyer-Knapp, discusses how difficult it is to end a war and restore a lasting and just peace, because of all of the harm that war causes.  Not only do the difficulties that caused the war need still to be solved, but many other additional problems need also to be solved as well in the wake of the destruction of war.  Why not bypass all of the harm that wars cause, and try to address tensions and injustice before they escalate into violence? It is possible to do so, but it requires careful planning and an understanding of the methods and dynamics of nonviolent action.  The members of this panel will discuss the basic principles of nonviolent action, and dispel some common misconceptions about nonviolence, and will share real-life examples of various ways of working for peace and justice in today’s world.

Panelists:

• Tsewang Lama ’10, Davis United World College Scholar , Asian Studies and Government major from Nepal.
• Laura Rediehs, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Coordinator of Peace Studies.
• Steven Symansky ’73, Economist with the International Monetary Fund.  He has worked on rebuilding economic institutions after wars in Kosovo, East Timor, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Liberia.
• Eric Weinhold ’80, Associate Director of Admissions and Director of International Admissions.
• David Weissbard ’62, ’65 (MDiv), is a retired Unitarian-Universalist minister and works for a local nonprofit organization.  He was active in opposition to the Vietnam War and worked for other causes concerning peace and nonviolence.

In its fourth year, Davis Projects for Peace, is an invitation to undergraduates at the American colleges and universities in the Davis United World College Scholars Program to design grassroots projects that they will implement during the summer of 2010. The projects judged to be the most promising and do-able will be funded at $10,000 each. The objective is to encourage and support today’s motivated youth to create and tryout their own ideas for building peace.  All St. Lawrence students are encouraged to write a grant proposal to develop your ideas for creating peace.

The Davis Projects for Peace Competition is made possible by Kathryn Wasserman Davis, an accomplished internationalist and philanthropist, who hopes to “bring new thinking to the prospects of peace in the world.”

Students planning to apply to the competition MUST contact Carol Smith in the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (csmith@stlawu.edu; x5574) by October 20, 2009, to sign up.  Students seeking guidance for the proposal writing process are also welcome to contact Professor Laura Rediehs at lrediehs@stlawu.edu; x5457 or Devon Murphy Stein at dstein@stlawu.edu; x5578

Students with general queries may also contact any member of the Selection Committee for more information:

Kathleen Buckley, University Chaplain, kbuckley@stlawu.edu; x5256
Elun Gabriel, Assistant Professor of History, egabriel@stlawu.edu; x5149
Shelley McConnell, Assistant Professor of Government, smcconnell@stlawu.edu; x5218
Devon Murphy Stein, Corporate & Foundation Relations, dstein@stlawu.edu; x5578

Tip for Shaping Your Proposal:

Successful proposals have a sustainable impact.  As you work to conceptualize and plan a project, realize that the projects funded are generally grassroots projects that have a long-lasting impact on the community where they are carried out.  To see reports of projects carried out with support from the Davis 100 Projects for Peace program, visit: http://www.davisprojectsforpeace.org/projects.php?type=PFP
For more information on this opportunity, we urge you to visit the program website, where details on the proposal format can be viewed:  http://www.davisprojectsforpeace.org/qanda.php

All final proposals will be due by January 27, 2010 to: Devon Murphy Stein at dstein@stlawu.edu or 11 Maple Street.  Her phone number is x5578.

We will provide handouts giving information about what Peace Studies is, how the minor here is structured, and what activities we are planning.  If you are interested in learning even more or getting involved, there are a variety of ways, from participating in a discussion group, to offering courses cross-listed into Peace Studies, to joining the Advisory Committee.  Full details will be provided.

If you are interested but cannot make this time, please be in touch, and we can send you information and/or meet with you individually to answer any questions you may have.

Click here for for more about 100 Projects for Peace, and for information about Grace’s project.

We plan to meet on Fridays at noon on the following dates:  February 20, March 6, March 13, April 3, and April 17.

We will read William Ury’s The Third Side, and parts of Gene Sharp’s The Politics of Nonviolent Action.

If you are a faculty member or staff member at St. Lawrence University, and would like to participate in this reading group, please contact Laura Rediehs for more information!

Defending Human Rights and Non-Violent Activism:
Saving Lives and Promoting Peace

(The Work of Peace Brigades International with focus on Nepal)

Featuring Krystal Mason, PBI-Nepal Field Officer, and Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh, PBI-USA Executive Director
- – - – -

This FRIDAY, January 23rd @ 5:30pm in the Winston Room
- – - – - -

With this visual, interactive and engaging presentation, students and faculty will learn about…

·         The critical work of Peace Brigades International

·         Using creative Non-violence to defend human rights

·         Nepal’s human rights’ issues and organizations

·         Nepal’s transition from a monarchy to a republic

·         Field Volunteer opportunities and other ways to help!
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Sponsored by ASIA (Asian Students Intercultural Association), Literacy for Nepal, Amnesty International, History Department, Philosophy Department – Peace Studies, the Chaplains Office

SPECIAL THANKS to – Tsewang Lama ‘10 for organizing this event!

100 Projects for Peace Competition 2009

Application Deadline: January 26, 2009

For the third consecutive year, philanthropist Kathryn Wasserman Davis is funding a competitive initiative for all students at the Davis United World College Scholars Program schools to design their own grassroots projects for peace that they themselves will implement anywhere in the world during the summer of 2009. Through a competition on over 90 campuses, 100 projects will be selected for funding at $10,000 each.

St. Lawrence students are eligible to participate in this competition. Thus far, we have had three teams of students funded through this initiative: two in the summer of 2007 and one in the summer of 2008.

Who is funding this and why?

Kathryn W. Davis launched the program as a way to spark initiatives for building prospects for peace in the world and is committing $1 million to fund one hundred $10,000 projects for peace. She believes that today’s youth – tomorrow’s leaders – ought to be challenged to formulate and test their own ideas.

What do you mean by “projects for peace”?

No clear definition is offered so as not to limit the imagination. Students can apply their own definitions to what a “project for peace” might be. Creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship are encouraged! The overall program (all 100 projects) is to be worldwide in scope and impact, but specific projects may be undertaken anywhere, including in the U.S.

Who is eligible to design a “project for peace”?

Any St. Lawrence student or team of students is eligible to design a project and apply to the campus selection committee. Contact: Devon Murphy Stein (x5578; dstein@stlawu.edu)

How does the funding for these projects work?

Mrs. Davis has committed $1 million to fund 100 projects for peace in 2009. While Davis funding per project is limited to $10,000, projects with larger budgets are welcome as is co-funding from other sources.

How does a student (or group of students) make a proposal?

To be considered, a student (or group of students) must submit a proposal that describes the project (who, what, where, how) including expected outcomes and prospects for future impact (not to exceed two pages) as well as a budget (one separate page). Proposals should include pre-approval of all involved parties and organizations involved in the project. The two-page proposal and one-page budget should be submitted electronically to Devon Murphy Stein at dstein@stlawu.edu. Students are also encouraged to contact Devon with any questions or concerns they may have about the process or what they are proposing.

How are these proposals submitted and judged?

St. Lawrence has a selection committee to evaluate all student proposals submitted. The committee is comprised of Devon Murphy Stein, Associate Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations; Kathleen Buckley, University Chaplain; Laura Rediehs, Associate Professor of Philosophy; and Elun Gabriel, Assistant Professor of History. Final review and approval of all recommended proposals from individual campuses rests solely with the office of the Davis UWC Scholars Program, which will then forward the appropriate grant funds to each school with winning project(s).

How will the 100 grants be awarded?

The intention is to fund 100 projects, with at least one at each of the Davis UWC Scholar schools. Therefore, the selection committee will select and submit one proposal from St. Lawrence University for funding and one alternate proposal that might be funded as well. Final decisions on all grants are made by the Davis UWC Scholars Program office.

Grants are made upon assurance that the project proposed will, in fact, be undertaken during the summer of 2009.

What is the timetable for proposals and decisions?

All student proposals must be submitted to Devon Murphy Stein by Monday, January 26, 2009.

Contact info: dstein@stlawu.edu; tel: x5578; address: 11 Maple Street

Recommended proposals will be submitted to the Davis UWC Scholars office by February 16, 2009.

Final decisions on all winning proposals rendered by Davis UWC Scholars office will be communicated by March 16, 2009.

Please see http://www.davisprojectsforpeace.org/ for more information about the 100 Projects for Peace program, and please contact Devon Murphy Stein at x5578 or dstein@stlawu.edu or any of the selection committee members, if you have any questions.

Thank you!

The 2009 Projects for Peace Campus Selection Committee:
Devon Murphy Stein
Kathleen Buckley
Laura Rediehs
Elun Gabriel