November 28, 2023
MCLA faculty and staff invite the campus and North Adams community to a panel discussion – How to Speak About Peace – to discuss urgent calls for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine on Thursday, November 30.
The discussion will start at 7 p.m. in Murdock Hall Room 218. Panelists include Associate Professor of Anthropology Dr. Mohamad Junaid, Associate Professor of English & Communications Dr. Victoria Papa, Assistant Professor of Art History and Museum Studies Dr. Eunice Uhm, Associate Professor of Modern Language Dr. Mariana Bolivar, and Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Carter Carter. The discussion will be moderated by Assistant Professor of English & Communications Dr. Caren Beilin and interim director of The Mind’s Eye – an initiative featuring interdisciplinary academic programming.
“As an educational institution with scholarly expertise in our community, one thing we can do to try to cope with the unfolding events is to gather for conversation and to contend with current events. It is notable that this panel includes Jewish, Arab, and Muslim faculty members and those whose research addresses many of these intertwined topics,” MCLA President James Birge stated in a message to the campus community. “I encourage our community’s participation in this important conversation.”
This community panel is a follow-up and continuation of the previous panel about the war in Israel and Gaza. This comes after a weekend of horrific violence that took place in Burlington, VT involving three Palestinian college students.
"We must continue to talk with one another about peace, to find the words, and indeed the information, to speak and act on this urgent issue,” Dr. Beilin said.
About MCLA
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught
by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive
on every level of their lives. In nearly every way possible, the experience at MCLA
is designed to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully
empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 129-year commitment
to public education, we have fortified our commitment to equitable academic excellence.
MCLA has appeared on U.S. News’ list of Top Ten Public Colleges for nine consecutive
years – ranking No. 7 for Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for a third year.
The College's continued commitment to affordable education and economic prosperity
is reflected in its list of National Liberal Arts Colleges for Social Mobility since
the organization adopted this ranking in 2019; No. 1 in the state, No. 2 in the country,
and No. 22 for National Liberal Arts Colleges. These rankings measure how well schools
graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Learn more at www.mcla.edu.
