SU international peace summit open to public, available on Internet

SU international peace summit open to public, available on InternetOctober 18, 2006Kevin Morrowkdmorrow@syr.edu

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke, Palestinian legislator and scholar Hanan Ashrawi and Tel Aviv University President Itamar Rabinovich are among the Middle East experts, world scholars, human rights activists and leading diplomats attending Wednesday’s (Oct. 18) “Small World/Big Divides: Building Bridges in an Age of Extremes” international peace summit in Syracuse University’s Goldstein Auditorium.

The summit takes place from 1-4:30 p.m. Tickets are free, but seating is limited. Tickets may be reserved by phone, 1-866-933-3334, or via e-mail, bridges@syr.edu. It will also be streamed live on the Internet; to register for the webcast, and to submit questions and comments to panelists, visit http://www.buildingbridges.syr.edu.

Along with Holbrooke, Ashrawi and Rabinovich, participants include Ismael Ahmed, executive director of the Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services (ACCESS) in Michigan; Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corp. of New York; Tazim Kassam, SU associate professor of religion; Rami Khouri ’70, G’98, editor-at-large of the Beirut-based Middle East regional newspaper The Daily Star and director of the Issam Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs at American University of Beirut; Micere Githae Mugo, professor and chair of SU’s Department of African American Studies; Dennis Ross, author, diplomat and Ziegler Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute; and Diane Weathers ’71, human rights advocate and former editor in chief of Essence Magazine.

The event begins with a video address by William Safire ’51, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times and chairman of The Dana Foundation, followed by framing remarks by SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor.

David Crane L’80, former chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and SU Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law, will lead the first of two panel discussions, focusing on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and unfold a dialogue focusing on possibilities for common ground.

Kassam will frame the second panel session by focusing on the urgent need for understanding between cultures, and Crane and co-facilitator Weathers will expand this conversation to include audience members in the auditorium and those watching via the Internet. In this way, participants will be drawn together to focus on potential community solutions, addressing what can be done globally, as well as locally, to bridge the divides that prevent mutually acceptable resolution to conflict. The dialogue will explore the possibilities for individuals and other entities, such as businesses and universities, to build a ripple effect leading to positive global change.

Audience members may participate in the discussion by text messaging and e-mailing questions to the panelists. These questions will be collected during the first session, and a selection will be posed to the panelists by the facilitators — and some audience members — during the second session. Questions can be e-mailed to bridges@syr.edu. The telephone number for text messages is 315-415-7195.

Chancellor Cantor will conclude the panel sessions by remarking on future directions.

At 7:30 p.m., Weathers will introduce a concert at the Landmark Theatre echoing the day’s discussions by bringing together three artists of different backgrounds — Matisyahu, Kenny Muhammad/The Human Orchestra and State Radio — under the umbrella of peace and social engagement. Tickets — $32 and $52 (including the Landmark Theatre restoration fee) — are available through ticketmaster.com and the Landmark Theatre box office.