President's Peace Commission

Dr. Charles L. Cotrell, President of St. Mary's University, serves as moderator for this first session of the President's Peace Commission. Dr. Cotrell introduces Matt Jones, German Lopez, Irene Muniz, and Chris Villa, students at St. Mary's University and participants in the August 2004 "Pathways to Participation: Volunteering and Voting" conference held in Washington, D.C. The students address the following questions: (1) How has civic engagement developed in universities? (2) Why is it important at a college or university? They discuss general trends in civic engagement among youth in the United States and the importance of voting as a young adult. The session concludes with a question and answer period. (61 minutes)

Ms. Minita Santizo, Director of the International Education Programs at St. Mary's University moderates this session and introduces panelists Stephen Berchelmann, alumnus of St. Mary's, and Dr. Celine A. Jacquemin, Director of the undergraduate International Relations Program and professor of Political Science at St. Mary's University. Mr. Berchelmann describes his immersion experience in Guatemala following his graduation. Dr. Jacquemin uses a Power Point presentation to describe the myriad of her international experiences. Both address the following questions: (1) What are some of the challenges and obstacles in establishing and participation in an international immersion experience? (2) What limitations, if any, should be placed on individual or collective involvement abroad? (3) What does it mean to be a global citizen? Concluding the presentations, the audience is given the floor to ask questions of the panelists. (62 minutes)

Reverend Bernard J. Lee, SM, ThD, Assistant Chancellor of St. Mary's University introduces the two panelists for this session. Peter Monod is the Director of the Office of Social Concerns for the Archdiocese of San Antonio; he is a former Air Force officer. Patti Radle is a council member for the City of San Antonio, District 5. Mr. Monod and Ms. Radle address the following questions: (1) How can one's faith influence one's political participation? (2) Why is responsible participation in the political process a moral obligation? (3) What is the appropriate separation between religion and politics, e.g., should a priest deny communion to a politician whose public position contradicts the Church's teaching? (62 minutes)

Mr. Jeremiah Ellis of the President's Peace Commission serves as the moderator of this session. He introduces Christina Garcia, Gheran "G" Goddard, and Henry Van de Putte, three students at St. Mary's University. The panel discusses what motivates young people to vote, what some of the obstacles of voting are, and the most effective methods to engage others to vote. (47 minutes)

Carrie Gaines of the President's Peace Commission serves as moderator for this fifth panel discussion. She introduces the panelists Dr. Rafael Moras, PhD, PE, professor of engineering at St. Mary's, and Dr. Paul X. Uhlig, PhD, professor of mathematics at St. Mary's. Both professors use Power Point presentations to address the following questions: (1) Is it possible to balance objectivity and advocacy in the sciences, and if so, how? (2) Is it possible for judges to do so in the courts, and if so, how? (49 minutes)

Kathe Lehman-Meyer, director of the Learning Resources Center at St. Mary's University, serves as moderator for this panel discussion. She introduces Bruce Davidson, Associate Editor of the Editorial Page for the San Antonio Express-News, and Clara Rivas, the Vice-President and General Manager of KVDA-TV, the Telemundo station in San Antonio. Mr. Davidson and Ms. Rivas address the following questions during their presentations: (1) Which forms of media (print, broadcast, internet) have had the greatest influence on civic engagement or disengagement? (2) Why does bad news sell? (3) How can media serve as an agent of civic engagement? (44 minutes)

Patricia Mejia of the President's Peace Commission moderates this final panel session and introduces Leticia Cavazos, an alumna of St. Mary's University and Caroline Hallman, a student at St. Mary's University. Both panelists respond to the following questions in their presentations: (1) How does civic engagement connect with leadership? (2) What are the traits of a leader? (3) How are leaders made? A question and answer period concludes the session. (46 minutes)