Nonviolence week at YSU

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

“Stamp Out Violence” is the theme of Youngstown State University’s first Nonviolence Week today through Friday.

“Our university firmly embraces the principles of nonviolence,” said Yulanda McCarty-Harris, director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity at YSU.

“Nonviolence was instrumental to bringing about change during the civil-rights movement, and it is still relevant even more so today. Nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform and empower our lives and our communities. We are excited about this initiative on campus, and we are even more excited that our students are involved.”

Today at 9 a.m, YSU President Cynthia E. Anderson and Youngstown City Schools Superintendent Wendy Webb will be joined by YSU Student Government President Nick Meditz and Gregory Jones of Youngstown Early College for a kickoff celebration in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center.

The guest speaker is Jeff Steinberg, a former teacher who travels the country talking about nonviolence. He also leads Sojourn to the Past, a nationally recognized social-justice and civil-rights education project.

At 11 a.m. Tuesday, the YSU Greek system, along with YSU Campus Rec and Student Programming, will present “Greeks Against Violence” on the campus core in front of Kilcawley Center.

At 11:30 a.m. Wed-nesday, YSU Housing and Residence Life and representatives of YSU Student Government will present a discussion on “Nonviolence and Women” in Christman Dining Commons.

The discussion features Lynn Bilal, program director of the Rape Information and Counseling Program at the Family Service Agency, and Constance Collins of Sojourner House Domestic Violence Program.

At 11 a.m. Thursday, “Stop the Violence! A Call for Nonviolence: Gangs in Youngstown” will take place in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center, featuring Roland Smith, director of programs for the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, Mel Duncan, co-founder of Nonviolent Peaceforce, will speak at the McDonough Museum of Art.

At 4 p.m. Friday, “Long Night’s Journey Into Day,” a 2000 Academy Award nominee and the grand prize winner at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival, will be screened in the Presidential Suites of Kilcawley Center.

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the YSU Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity at 330-941-3370.