Faculty organize teach-in about Syrian issues
November 20, 2015
Roanoke College faculty members organized a teach-in to address the broad and complicated issues related to the Syrian conflict, the refugee crisis, the Paris attacks, and the Roanoke mayor's position. Faculty members from history, political science, sociology and the fine arts department, addressed these topics to a large audience of students, faculty and staff. Faculty members wanted to give students background and context to help them form educated opinions when considering current events.
The faculty panel included: Dr. Jonathan Snow, visiting assistant professor, public affairs; Dr. Jason Hawke, associate professor, history; Dr. Shannon Anderson, assistant professor, sociology; Dr. Leslie Warden, assistant professor, fine arts; Dr. Rob Willingham, associate professor, history; moderator Dr. M. Ivonne Wallace Fuentes, associate professor, history.
Questions ranged from "Who is ISIS?" to "Who are the refugees" to "Is Islam violent?"
Several Virginia television stations covered the event. Their stories can be found on WDBJ7.com, WSLS.com and WSET.com.
Teach In
Dr. Jason Hawke speaks to the crowd.
Dr. Rob Willingham: "For a local mayor to draw a positive comparison between Syrian refugees and Japanese internment is fairly staggering. This is a Syrian teaching moment. And the student who needs to be here is marked absent."
Dr. Shannon Anderson: "In 1939 [the U.S.] turned away a boatload of Jews. Do we want to be a party to that again? The way we treat people coming into this country says a lot about what America is." "It is appropriate for you to ask questions. Talk to each other. This is your world. Be part of it. Be engaged. Raise your voice if you hear someone say something that you know is not true. Correct them."
Dr. Leslie Warden: State governors "can't stop people from coming into this country, but they can stop aid to these people."
Dr. Ivonne Wallace Fuentes served as moderator and was one of the primary organizers of the teach-in.
A student asks a question.
A Palestinian student spoke and said when he looked at the U.S. visa application he almost changed his mind about applying. "Put yourself in those people's shoes," he said.
Students, faculty and staff crowded into the Colket atrium during the lunch hour.
