D219 Students Reflect on Noble Peace Summit

From the community - 

Forty students from Niles West and Niles North were among a select group of young people invited to attend the 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates at the University of Illinois –Chicago in late April. Juniors and seniors who are enrolled in the Literature of Peace and Nonviolence class at both schools attended a panel discussion between Nobel Peace Prize winners that included: former Presidents Jimmy Carter (U.S.), Mikhail Gorbachev (Soviet Union), F. W. De Klerk (South Africa); and Lech Walesa, former Polish President and leader of the Solidarity movement. This marks the first time a Nobel World Summit has been held in North America.

The class, which is an elective in the English department, encourages students to think about issues of peace, justice, human rights, and conflict resolution, through the use and discussion of literature, non-fiction, current events and film. The class is taught this year by Dena Lichterman at Niles West and by Liz Shulman at Niles North, both of whom created the curriculum five years ago along with Niles West teacher Paul Wack.

Those who attended the Nobel summit said they agreed it provided a significant culmination of the conversations they have been having in class throughout the semester.

Being able to attend the event “was really good timing,” according to Niles West senior Janet Iqal. “Most of us are getting ready to go to college. We’ve had a chance to spend the semester talking about some ways we can make positive change, and now we will be going off to different places around the country, ready to help bring that change.”

Some in the class at West were struck by comments made by Gorbachev, who said it is time for younger people to start having more of a say in how the world is run, since the “old guard” has had its chance.

“Teenagers get ignored by the government, yet we have some pretty significant opinions about how things can be done differently, and maybe better,” said West senior Ali Toth.

Students at both schools said they were especially impressed with remarks by Professor Jody Williams, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for her work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

Williams made the point that “you don’t need a large group of people to make a difference,” said Zeia Amanoel, a senior at West. “If everyone would just do one small thing, those small things will add up.”

Niles North senior Shana Ariaz echoed that sentiment: “Jody Williams challenged everyone to choose one specific thing they can do, and then go do it -- even if you just volunteer for a good cause once a month.”

Community service is a requirement of the class at West. Nick Goodwin said his service project to refinish benches at a local nursing home made him feel grateful to be able to help. Janet Iqal was one of several students who volunteered for Special Olympics.

Rori Speck, a senior at North, said the course teaches about concepts such as structural power, racism and earned and unearned advantages.  “We talk about what we take for granted, sometimes because of our circumstances, sometimes due to economics, often because of our race. The class has really made me think.”

West senior Aladin Bihorac said the class has made him realize the many ways our society unfairly stereotypes people based on race, often in ways that are not obvious, and how damaging those stereotypes are. He said he is more careful about the language he uses as a result.

“This class opened my eyes,” said senior Caitlin Colleran, also in the class at North. “It has helped me appreciate how hard my parents work and all the things they’ve done for me, and it makes me want to say thank you more often.”

Senior Aeriel Cabitac, in the same class, said she learned some concrete tools to de-escalate conflict by studying the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. She has been able to use some of those tactics in her own relationships with fellow students.

Ashley Frost, a senior at West, moved to Skokie from Evanston. She said she was unfamiliar with some of the other ethnicities and cultures represented at Niles West and has learned a lot more about other students’ different backgrounds thanks to the real-life discussions they have about current world issues and their own beliefs.

Last September 19 the Nation magazine ran a prominent article, “Teaching Peace,” that singled out the D219 class as one of the few such classes in the country. West senior Willy Nicholas said every student should take the class. “A lot of times you support a cause or hold a certain point of view because you only hang out with people with your own opinion.” He said this class exposes students to a wider range of viewpoints.

Compared with classes that concentrate on older literature and history, “this class is more forward-thinking,” said North senior Elizabeth Weintraub “We talk about where we are and where we’re going. That’s something I want to continue thinking about. I don’t want to go back.”