U Magazine, Winter 1986

Arms Control Negotiations?" (Featherman) - "Can We Afford Economically the Arms Race?" (Anderson) -"Is Nuclear War Inevitable?" and "Is There Hope for the Future?" (Wohlmuth) Meanwhile, Campus Ministry is planning two liturgies on peace, one to open the semester and the other at the close of the school year. Prayer services will be held throughout the semester. A weekend peace retreat is also scheduled, in March, at Camp Oliver in Descanso. "We will reflect on peace and how it applies to our lives," according to Fr. McKay. He makes clear that Campus Ministry's role in the peace movement is not to advocate "Democrat or Republican choices on how to deal with the problems of nuclear weapons and other peace problems, but to assist students in developing a lifelong personal commitment to peace." Campus Ministry might also organize a march through campus. " It's a real possibility," Fr. McKay indicates. "We'd like to be visible to what we are committed to." Fr. McKay is looking at early May for a march date, to coincide with the Soviet Union's annual May Day parade which showcases its great military strength. It was Fr. McKay's idea to pattern USD 's social issues movement after a similar effort by the University of Santa Clara, where each semester carries a new theme. Peace was the committee's unanimous choice for this spring semester. Subsequent themes are expected to be peace-related. Committee members are monitoring what other campuses are doing nationwide. O'Hearn has paid particular attention to his student government counterparts at Santa Clara. "The University of Santa Clara says the process has to be slow, gradual, to avoid burnout of (student) volunteers,"

O'Hearn notes. "The burnout rate at Santa Clara has been atrocious." It's frustrating to O'Hearn because, with the goal of making peace a lifelong commitment, it's difficult to see direct results. When he was first approached to take part in the social issues committee, O'Hearn was skeptical. "I feel like I am already spread thin. I didn't want to get involved unless there was a focus." The thematic approach provided that focus for him. As a result, the student government plans to take part in the faculty forums, examine peace issues in the student newspaper and devote portions of its film series and speakers nationally recognized with the peace movement, like Joan Kroc, to speak on campus," O'Hearn says. He anticipates there will be other student sponsored peace events, but feels the student government will follow the faculty's direction and not carry out any dramatics, such as student protest marches. "This is a different era. Students today have a different way of dealing with issues-different from the 60s." A report published in a November issue of The Chronicle for Higher Education indicates that USD is among the first universities to establish a peace movement: "Courses on peace have been popular at least since the 1960s, but the popularity of courses specifically on nuclear war and arms control is newer, beginning around 1981, when the nuclear freeze movement began to gain widespread support," says the Chronicle report. "The number of such courses being offered nationwide has increased from virtually none in 1980 to more than 100 today.. .." bureau to the cause for peace. "We'd like to bring someone

Campus Ministry might also organize a march through campus.

John L. Nunes is director of USD 's News Bureau.

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