Introduction
The Student Movement for the Culture of Peace (SMCP) 3rd Annual Symposium was held on May 15, 2022, under the theme of “Redefining the Culture of Peace: From Our Heart, in Our Community, and to Our World.” SMCP invited four guest speakers: Erica Koyama, a student at Soka University of America (SUA), Kiyoko Trobaugh, a donor of SUA, Michael Golden, Professor of Music Composition and Theory, and Sarah England, Associate Professor of Anthropology. The event started with Ms. Koyama’s speech in which she connected the culture of peace and life science, which was her academic interest. She discussed the culture of peace from the perspective of life science, which can reveal the miracle of humans’ existence, reminding the audiences of the preciousness of their lives. She valued the coexistence of science and peace, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and compassion among people who live on the same planet. Her remarkable speech was followed by two sessions: the first with a donor of SUA and the second with SUA faculty members.
The First Session: Kiyoko Trobaugh
In the first session, student facilitators led a discussion with Kiyoko Trobaugh, a donor of SUA who worked for 10 years at the SUA cafeteria. She shared her determination to support SUA students, which she made when she heard the announcement that SUA would be established. In order to fulfill her determination, she decided to enroll in culinary school to become a professional chef to serve delicious and healthy food to the students. After graduating, she began working at the SUA cafeteria. The founder of SUA, Mr. Daisaku Ikeda, requested her to take good care of students and she earnestly responded to his request. She always took special care of students; for example, she cooked porridge for sick students and catered to the students’ needs. Her efforts were deeply respected by Mr. Ikeda, and she received many appreciation letters from him. Encouraged by his letters, her compassion and dedication to SUA students were energized. Even though she faced several difficulties such as illness, a strained relationship with her new boss, and an age gap between her coworkers, she worked at the cafeteria for 10 years.
At the end of her talk, Kiyoko expressed her gratitude for Mr. Ikeda, the former SUA president Daniel Habuki, and the current president Ed Feasel. In a Q&A session, she encouraged SUA students to have positive attitudes even if things are not going well. She wanted students to face challenges courageously but not to push themselves too hard. In terms of the culture of peace, she stated that if everyone can understand how each individual’s happiness relates to the world, world peace can be achieved.
The Second Session: Professors Michael Golden and Sarah England
In the second session, Professors Michael Golden and Sarah England discussed the significance of liberal arts education and diversity at SUA. Professor Golden explained that a liberal arts education helps students to develop broader perspectives and bridges people with different opinions. In a diverse society, divisions among people can lead to destructive behaviors against others. However, he believes that a liberal arts education, where students engage in a variety of academic fields, enables students to appreciate human beings with various opinions. SUA students have opportunities not only to benefit from a liberal arts education but also to learn from its diverse environment. He also emphasized the crucial role that dialogue plays in connecting people who have different perspectives. Professor England stated that the purpose of knowledge is to help others but not to use knowledge in a condescending or arrogant way. She reminded the audience to respect other people. As an anthropologist, she showed appreciation for SUA’s diversity and highlighted that the students can learn from each other because of the SUA’s diverse student body.
Lastly, Professors Golden and England shared their own understanding of a culture of peace. Professor Golden stated that when working to create a culture of peace, it’s crucial to consider the question of identity. People need to recognize and value diverse individual and group identities, but also recognize that each of us can consider our identity flexibly, as a unique individual, as a member of a family, of a community, of an ethnic or religious group, of all humanity or even as a part of all life on earth. Professor England emphasized that an understanding of violence is also crucial to building a culture of peace. She explained that ignorance about violence can lead people to exercise violence without realizing it.
Conclusion
Throughout the symposium, the audience embraced the voices of supporters of SUA, who believe in the unlimited potential of the students. The donor shared her profound experiences to contribute to the development of SUA. The faculty members emphasized the significant characteristics of SUA, such as a liberal arts education, diverse cultures, and the strong conviction of the students to embody the culture of peace. Each participant left the symposium with the redetermined faith to engage themselves in their own passionate fields to live a contributing life.