March celebrated at the University to promote peace

The University celebrated the "Day of Peace Celebration" in the Student Union and Multipurpose Room to promote peace. With the tagline that stated, "Let Peace Begin With[in] Me!"

University Provost Geoffrey L. Brackett opened the event. Following the opening was a Teach – In on Nonviolent Communication that was presented by Dyson's Peace and Justice House Don Professor Ida Dupont.

The sponsors and hosts of the event included Free Speech Forum (FSF) that worked with closely with the University Division for Student Success and the Center for Community Action and Research. The organizations that also supported the event included the Student Government Association (SGA) The Dyson Body and Mind and Green Houses and the Honors Council.

Tables and activities were also presented by University organizations and departments including, Safe Sex and LGBT Awareness by the Stonewall Coalition, Aroma Therapy with the Dyson Green House, International Services and Programs – Travel Opportunities, APHROS Literary Magazine, The Office for Student Success Help Line and problem resolution. Other activities that were held included yoga, meditation, painting, seed planting, tie dying, ornament making and pottery decoration. Food and live music were also provided.

The United Nations (UN) Non-governmental Organization (NGO) held the Meditation workshop, A Centre for the World Religions and the Dyson Body and Mind House hosted the Yoga event.

The "Day of Peace Celebration" had a successful turnout. Approximately over 115 students and faculty attended the event. The main premise of the event was to encompass all members of the University – the Administration, students and faculty. It coincided with the UN event the Day of Peace Celebration was supposed to raise awareness and how to make a positive contribution to the universal peace movement and to "Build a Culture of Community" at the University.

It was also supposed to provide an understanding that the goal of universal peace is unattainable without personal peace from within. Event Coordinator and University junior Lorendra Pinder said, "We sought to lay the foundation here at Pace by focusing the day on activities and information that would allow participants to tap into and nurture inner peace."

There was live music that was provided by University students. One of the performances was a duo between University grad student and performer Marcus Smith and University student Robin Shafer. Smith said, "It felt very inclusive and it felt good to share [our music] with other people and have them share theirs with us. Music is the universal language and with music I feel we all fit together better in the universe."

At the closing of the event sophomore Jackie Lipson performed the song cover "One Day" by Matisyahu with the notable chorus, "One day this all will change/ Treat people the same/ Stop with the violence down with the hate/ One day we'll all be free and proud/ To be under the same sun/ Singing songs of freedom."

"It goes to show that no matter what disparities may exist among Pace students, faculty, staff and Administration, a culture of peace is more than possible when we take a moment to nurture peace within ourselves. This taste of peace is like a drop in the pond that will engender ripples of peace throughout the entire university and eventually do its part to contribute to world peace," Pinder said.