CLOSER LOOK
Tuesday, November 15,2011
that they are motivated by social justice issues,” Duffey said. The Peace Studies major includes classes in communication, theology, economics and philosophy. An introductory course exposes students to theories, practices and important figures of peacemaking, and, in a senior capstone course, students summarize the importance of three areas of peace studies: peacebuilding theory and practice; power, justice and human rights; and social and economic development. Duffey, who was a member of the Peace Corps in Nepal and has taught in the subject area of peace and justice for 30 years, said almost every student in the program studies abroad. Marquette alumnus and 2010 peace studies major Mike Ziegler spent the spring 2009 semester in Cape Town, South Africa with Marquette’s Service Learning program. “(My peace studies major) was one of the reasons why I went to South Africa, just because South Africa has such a rich history in the actuality of peacemaking,” Ziegler said. “So it was interesting for me to go there — a place I had learned a lot theoretically about — and have the lived experience.” Ziegler completed his peace studies major with an emphasis in theology, taking about six theology classes, along with courses in economics and political science. “I had such a broad spectrum of interests, but I found the common thread to be what I understood to be acts of justice,” Ziegler said. “There wasn’t necessarily a certain major that addressed everything I was interested in.” So Ziegler worked with Duffey to draft a proposal for a peace studies major. “Dr. Duffey was always very supportive of me and did make sure I had thought out the courses I had chosen,” Ziegler said. An interdisciplinary major was custom-fit to not only Ziegler’s interests, he said, but to his whole person. The peace studies program gave Ziegler the flexibility and broad base of courses he would need “to seek a more creative career path.” “That’s how I came to be where I am now,” Ziegler said. After graduating, Ziegler worked for nine months at a Catholic Worker farm in Sheepranch, Calif. that was also a retreat center for people with HIV. Ziegler currently lives in
Detroit, and is collaborating with a peace studies graduate from Notre Dame and an anthropology major from University of Cincinnati to establish Henry Tula House, a daytime hospitality center for Detroit’s homeless. “After discussions of our personal passions and our backgrounds, (they) thought I’d be a good fit for their organization and asked if I wanted to come on as a founding member,” Ziegler said. “I really believe it was a lot of my peace studies that formed me as a person they were able to approach (for this project).” Ziegler said his peace studies major helped him realize that people were at the center of his personal workings for justice. “My peace studies major taught me how to work compassionately with other people,” Ziegler said. “And now I have the opportunity with Henry Tula to build relationships with beautiful people that will bring about a more peaceful environment.” Duffey speaks just as passionately about peaces studies, saying, “It’s in my blood.”
Changed for the better
Tribune 9
Photo by Aaron Ledesma/aaron.ledesma@marquette.edu
Michael Duffey teaches the introductory course for the Justice and Peace Studies minor, offered at Marqutte since 2005. The Peace Studies major is expected to be approved this semester.
Like Duffey, Novotny was forever changed by her interdisciplinary Women’s and Gender Studies degree. “It challenged me in so many ways I would have never thought about,” Novotny said. “It exposed me to new and important information, and left me with a set of tools to approach things from a new perspective.” For students like Campbell, Novotny and Ziegler, and program directors like Zurcher and Duffey, interdisciplinary education is, by definition, for the whole person. “We’re recognizing the world needs interdisciplinary expertise,” Zurcher said. “Interdisciplinary studies are especially suited for a Jesuit mission. Social justice issues are extremely multifaceted, and we need lots of different perspectives all at once.” Caroline Campbell contributed to the reporting in this story.
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Check out the Tribune Web site for a slideshow with more information about Gender and Peace Studies.
This su m Photo Campb mer, WGST by Elis e Krivit R ell stud /elise.k ied lea esearch Fello rivit@m dership wship re arquett roles a e.edu c mong U ipient Natali e gandan adoles cents.
Illustration by Katherine Lau/katherine.lau@marquette.edu