Ohio Wesleyan is pleased to announce a new programming series, What’s Going On? Understanding the World Around Us, to provide opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to learn more about conflicts around the globe, including but not limited to issues related to Israel and Palestine. What’s Going On? will provide spaces to explore these important issues and think about how we might work through them as a community.
Our first event will feature Dr. Ashley Kennard, Assistant Professor of Communication. On Tuesday, Nov. 28, at noon in Merrick 301, Dr. Kennard will present “Communication, Divisive Issues, and Conflict Resolution Management.” This event will explore communication surrounding highly charged and divisive issues and talk about ways to manage interpersonal conflict without perpetuating harm. Dr. Kennard will discuss the role of communication in global and international conflicts, particularly within the context of the Israeli-Hamas war and discuss resources and strategies for managing conflict in a variety of interpersonal and intergroup contexts.
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, at noon in Merrick 301, Dr. Peter Hahn will present “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, the United States, and the War in Gaza in Historical Perspective.” Dr. Hahn, an OWU alum and Professor of History at The Ohio State University, will analyze the complicated situation in Gaza in its historical and contemporary contexts, focusing on the U.S. role and aiming to bring clarity and a balanced perspective about this difficult and dangerous moment in the Middle East.
Additional programming during spring semester will center on topics including the historical and legal context for global conflicts, misinformation and disinformation, and resisting anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Watch for more details about spring programming!
We understand that the issues connected to Israel, Palestine, and the current fighting are deeply upsetting and affect many of us on campus in many different ways. The What’s Going On? series will create space for our campus community to learn with, and from, each other. Thank you and we hope to see you at these events.
Source: Ohio Wesleyan University
Contact: unicomm@owu.edu