2008 Woodie Awards
Students rally for peace
Chris Donnelly '08
Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: News
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Music played as students gathered in front of the Slavin Center steps before the rally began at 8:00 p.m. A table was also set up for anyone who wished to sign The Declaration of Peace Pledge, which calls for a "comprehensive end to the U.S. war in Iraq."
"The focus of our rally, is pro-peace, not anti-war," said Kevin Roe '07, president of the PC Democrats.
To begin the rally Lisa Hofer '09, a member of Amnesty International, introduced Colleen Rosati, who sang "Somewhere" from the musical West Side Story.
The first speaker of the night was Rev. Nicanor Austriaco, O.P., assistant professor of biology, who brought a religious perspective to the topic of peace. He said that peace was a theme of the Christian tradition. The type of peace discussed by Father Austriaco and the night's other speakers was not only a global peace, but a smaller-scale peace between individuals.
"There are going to be disagreements. We need to pause, listen, and think," said Father Austriaco. "There is a peace in your heart that's addictive."
"I liked a lot of what Father Nick [Austriaco] said about peace beginning here," said Brooke Huminski '07.
Kerry Bergin '09 spoke about the Declaration of Peace and the International Day of Peace. Bergin then told students that they could sign the peace banner, which was laid out in front of the Slavin Center steps.
Patricia Wagner '07, president of Amnesty International, also spoke at the rally. Wagner was the first of the night to address the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, which continues to be the focus of many rallies across the country.
"We are the future. We are the peace," said Wagner, reiterating the theme of individual peace.