For Kalia Zell, the Common Ground for Peace Symposium panels were a once-in-a-lifetime event.

“It was absolutely amazing that we had such people come to Syracuse and we got to experience it,” said Zell, an undecided freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The symposium consisted of two panels, titled “The Rise of Democracy in the Middle East” and “Shifting the Global Consciousness,” which were held in the Schine Student Center. The panelists included the Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King III and several other important figures in the international peace discussion.

Both panels were two and a half hours long, and discussed how to establish peace. In general, students who attended the panels were encouraged by the discussion and motivated to take action.

When the Dalai Lama spoke, he seemed to captivate everyone in the room, including those on stage with him, said Matt Weeks, a junior engineering major.

He said the Dalai Lama talked about how to gain peace in the world, saying, “You must start with inner peace with the individual. Our happiness as people comes from others and when others suffer, we suffer.”

Several students who attended the panels said they hoped the event would have a significant effect on the Syracuse community.

“The panel will empower us to be part of the community and, as students, we can chose a career path that can contribute to the world in a beneficial way,” said Carmen Puentes, a junior communication science and disorders major.

Rachel Moore, a sophomore international relations major, said she hopes the event will bring about change on campus.

“My hope is that the people that did go to the panels will spread the word and start up more conversation about what is peace,” she said.

For others, the panel discussions served as a call to action. Sarah Brechbill, a sophomore broadcast and digital journalism major, said individuals need to work for peace and that it does not come simply from praying or sitting around.

“Everyone’s goal should be peace, for you and others. If you want peace you have to work for it,” Brechbill said. “Hopefully through this, the student body of Syracuse will become motivated and try to work toward peace.”

Published on October 9, 2012 at 12:03 am

Contact Michael: marnol01@syr.edu