The 2012 Ware Seminar, Conflict in Syria, was held on Tuesday, Nov. 27 in the Susquehanna Room at Elizabethtown College. The Judy S. ‘68 and Paul W. Ware Colloquium on Peacemaking and Global Citizenship sponsored the event.
Each year, the Judy and Paul Ware Colloquium provide a seminar that focuses on international issues of timely importance. This year’s seminar was designed to invite all students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community to attend the seminar where they were educated on the current crisis in Syria. The Seminar also allowed those interested to voice their opinion about whether the United States Military should become involved in the Syrian Civil War.
Three panelists led the 2012 Ware Seminar. Each presenter has an expertise in foreign affairs with wide backgrounds in Middle Eastern affairs.
The experts that were invited to the College to sit on the seminar’s panel include Dr. Joyce Davis, president of the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg; Dr. Oya Ozkanca, assistant professor of political science and director of the international studies minor at the College; and Ambassador John B. Craig, ambassador-in-residence at Etown’s the Center for Global Citizenship and past United States assistant to the President and senior director of Combatting Terrorism under George W. Bush
Speaking at the College for the 2012 Ware Seminar gave Davis, Ozkanca and Craig the opportunity to spread awareness and properly educate the audience on Syria’s endeavors and the implications on the rest of the world. Those who attended the public seminar included students, staff and faculty members of the College as well as members of the community.
Each of the three panelists presented different aspects and positions to properly inform the audience of the situation in Syria from varying points of view. Craig gave a brief political history of Syria and Davis examined the current events in Syria and discussed the consequences of outside intervention. Ozkanca further explained how Syria’s actions are affecting the immediate neighbors of the country, specifically the impact on the country of Turkey.
The main goal for the 2012 Ware seminar was to raise the awareness of this international issue within the College community and to discuss the spiraling situation in Syria. Craig explained the significance of the Ware Seminar’s discussion of Syria. “The seminar provides the opportunity for the College community to discuss issues involved in deciding whether the United States should get involved militarily in Syria to stop the fighting and change the regime,” Craig said.
The 2012 Ware Seminar consisted of two parts. First, the panelists each made their presentations and then, they opened up the discussion on Syria to questions and comments from the audience. By the time of the open discussion, the panelists presented a large amount of factual information to help the audience understand and examine the current situation in Syria and form an educated perspective and an accurate personal opinion on the subject.
The Judy S. ‘68 and Paul W. Ware Colloquium on Peacemaking and Global Citizenship was established in 2005. The goal of the annual seminar is to increase the engagement of students with international affairs and to encourage the College to adopt an interest in international affairs while better explaining how international conflicts, specifically those occurring in Syria, affect the United States.
The Ware Seminar combines the College’s international education goals with those of creating meaningful life work with the College’s Brethren heritage commitment to peace, non-violence and human dignity. The event was held in the Susquehanna Room of Myer Hall.
For more information about the 2012 Ware Seminar or the conflict in Syria, contact Kay Wolf, administrative assistant of the Center of Global Citizenship at WOLFK@etown.edu.