World Fest is Nothing Without Peace

While recently celebrating UCBA's World Fest, there was something else in store for faculty and students:   the long triumph of the 10th annual Peace conference. The conference took place April 23, 2012 in the Flory Center and was hosted by Steve Sunderland.

This year's topic dealt with the impact of social media on Arab Spring and beyond. Arab Spring is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Friday, 17 December 2010.

The founder of this wonderful event is Dr. Grace Auyang, who allowed seven of her winter quarter sociology students to serve as panelists. Each panelist made a five-minute presentation on important topics dealing with the impact of social media. Some of the presentations included:

• Women's rights in the Middle East are not so equal

• The impact of over-throwing Egypt's government

• Social media effect on the west and its impact on how social media is being learned by the Arabic people

Dr. Auyang expressed her gratitude to past students as well as her current group of phenomenal students including Demetrius Kinney, Bryan Boys, Shelly Pence, Amanda King, Sean Menke, Aidan Javed, and Amanda Stewart.

Former UCBA Ryan Gentry spoke on the history of Arab Spring. He now attends classes on main campus.

I would also like to give big kudos to those who participated and celebrated something positive:  PEACE.