NAFSA ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

Peace and Justice SIG

Minutes from the Meeting of 05/28/2008

In attendance: Lokesh Shivakumaraiah (Mississippi State U.), Barbara Pilling (U. of Minnesota), Marci McPhee (Brandeis U.), Mell Bolen (BCA), Robert William (BCA), Shaz Akram (Mississippi State U.), Stephen Cottrell (Mississippi State U.), Maria Hope (U. of Iowa), Thelma Rohrer (Manchester College), Chris Peltier (Northern Arizona University), Daniel Bryan (BCA), Shoshanna Sumka (American University), James Skelly (U. of Ulster/BCA), Everett Egginton (New Mexico State University/NAFSA), Michael Johansson (U. of Mississippi), David B. Austell (New York University), Samantha Martin (Jacksonville University), Jeannine Crouse, Diane Kerner (Ashland University), Kris Holloway (Center for International Studies), Anne Shimko (Institute of International Education), Michelle Ayazi (U. of Maryland CP), Luis Rivera (Univ. Autonoma de Chihuahua), Raul Favela (Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua), Chris Van Orden (U. of Pennsylvania), Karissa Silver (Montgomery College), Michelle Massey (University of Maryland, Baltimore County), Chris Murphy (NAFSA), John McAuliff (Fund for Reconciliation and Development), Marie Lourdes Elgirus (Toussaint-King Center for Non-Violence in Haiti), Tom Millington (Emmanuel College, Boston)

• Barbara Wien presentation - "Building a New Global Civil Culture: The Role of Non-Violent Movements"



• Member introductions



• Michael Johansson, P & J SIG chair, explained the new category for specific interest groups - MIG (Member Interest Group). Another new category -- Institutional Interest Group (IIG) is also now being used, although it does not apply to the P & J SIG



• He mentioned that the SIG chair serves a two-year term and that his term ends in 2009. He asked the members to consider assuming the SIG leadership.



• Michael highlighted the new P & J SIG listserv and webpage. The P & J SIG will submit an Annual Report to NAFSA in November highlighting the group's activities and current projects



• He stressed the importance of promoting the P & J SIG and its message at the regional level and he encouraged members to make presentations at NAFSA regional conferences. He also asked members to stay in touch with each other.



• Mell Bolen mentioned that the theme for the 2009 NAFSA annual Conference will be "Encouraging Global Engagement Through International Education." She explained that the process for submitting proposals has been restructured and encouraged anyone considering sending in a proposal to review the new procedures on the NAFSA website. She also said that NAFSA is looking for non-plenary speakers for next year's conference.



• Samantha Martin described current efforts to monitor ethics involving TIAA-CREF investments. Thelma Rohrer said that Manchester College is working with the Bentley Alliance for Ethics and Social Responsibility to monitor and challenge some of TIAA-CREF's investments. To learn more go to the following website:http://www.maketiaa-crefethical.org/



• Everett Egginton, (President of NAFSA) encouraged the membership to move forward; that it is time "for the rubber to hit the road." He reminded the P & J SIG that it should use available resources at NAFSA and at other institutions, and that it is equally important to find a way to bring more students to the NAFSA conference and to have them discuss issues of peace and justice with each other. He also mentioned that a Board of Directors Task Force on Peace in International Education wa formed and that Jason Terry, Special Assistant to the Executive Director & CEO at NAFSA, is also a strong advocate of peace and justice issues.


• Jim Skelly announced that the Peace and Justice Studies Association ( http://www.peacejusticestudies.org) will have its annual conference from September 11 -- 14, 2008 at Portland State University, Portland, OR. He encouraged P & J SIG members to attend. The International Peace Research Association will have its annual conference in Leuven, Belgium from July 15 -- 19, 2008 ( http://www.ipra2008.org/)



• David Austell, talked about how international education is the best instrument to promote citizen diplomacy. He briefly explained that the concept of 'educator diplomacy' is the next logical step following the progression from governmental/political diplomacy to citizen diplomacy. He said he would go into further detail during his session on May 30.



• John McAuliff (Fund for Reconciliation and Development) spoke of recent developments regarding travel to Cuba. He left a handout with links that lead to more information.



• Tom Millington encouraged members to organize events/speakers to commemorate the International Day of Peace (September 21). More information can be found at the following website: http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/.



• Chris Peltier stated at the close of the meeting that NAFSA has begun to explore new initiatives to donate unused conference materials such as pens, pencils, note tablets, etc. to area school and local organizations. To learn more visit the NAFSA website at: http://www.nafsa.org.



• The next P & J SIG meeting will take place during the 2009 NAFSA Annual Conferences in Los Angeles, CA.