Peace Institute
Salem State University

Peace Institute
Salem State University

"If we assume that life is worth living and that we have a right to survive, then we must find an alternative to war... Therefore I suggest that the philosophy and strategy or non-violence become immediately a subject for study..."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mission of the SSU Peace Institute

The Peace Institute is an academic and student oriented program to serve members of the college and surrounding communities in their efforts toward establishment and maintenance of peace in the world.  The Peace Institute was founded in 1982 by Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Edward Meagher.

The objective of the Peace Institute is to carry on dialogue on Peace Studies related issues in different ways:

• by involving students in community service projects in Salem  and Greater Boston area  for credit by taking IDS 400 (Directed Study) or IDS 375 (Research Practicum)
• by discussing issues such as, environmental justice, nonviolence and others among faculty members, students and anyone interested in the Salem State community
• by organizing campus events on peace and social justice,
• by networking with other campuses/groups involved in similar projects and
• by developing student mediation and conflict resolution skills through workshops.

Students interested in working with Peace and Social Justice related groups like:

• American Friends Service Committee (Cambridge)
• Grassroots International On Third World (Boston)
• Massachusetts Student Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG) (Salem State University)
• Salem Power Plant Healthlink  (Marblehead)
• Toxics Action Center (Boston)

or any other local community group of the student’s choice, which is involved in peace and social justice

Register for IDS 400- Directed Study or IDS 375- Research Practicum and get three credits for doing community work through the Peace Institute.  This course can be taken during Fall and Spring semesters as well as Summer Sessions I and II.  It fulfills free elective or Division I Humanities Distribution requirement.

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Peace Studies at Salem State University

Students interested in pursuing academic coursework and degrees in Peace Studies have several options through the Inter-Disciplinary Studies (IDS) Department, including a major and a minor. For more information visit the Peace Studies page at this site.

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Peace Curriculum

Academically, the Institute’s mission is enhanced by the development of a minor in Peace Studies. This minor offers students of any age a choice selection of courses from many disciplines which represent a blend of knowledge and skills essential to the pursuit of peace. Some of the courses developed for this Minor and as elective are: Mediation, Philosophy and Non-violence; Legal Anthropology: Adjudicating Conflict.

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Working for peace

The Peace Institute’s on-campus program relies upon the voluntary services of individual members who participate in a variety of ways depending upon their interests, skills and available time. We forsee a growing role for the Institute with members speaking, arranging films and other programs for schools and community groups. The Institute is also prepared to offer support and encouragement to its members to develop their individual peacemaking skills through training and educational programs such as the Minor in Peace Studies, workshops and internships.

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Contact information

To contact the Peace Institute coordinators, please go to the contact page.

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Salem State University - Peace Institute - Philosophy Department