This year’s top news stories from EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding mark life and professional transitions, celebrate impactful work, and connect us to the challenging issues of the day.
Three of the articles below also appear in a separate list – EMU’s Top News of 2021 – illustrating the importance of CJP itself and its values with the broader institutional community.
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You may also enjoy the Top Photos of 2021 collection.
MOST READ and MOST COMMENTS: EMU’s inaugural LGBTQ+ Month event
An announcement of EMU’s October 2021 inaugural – and history-making – LGBTQ+ Month commemoration event generated two records of more than 2,360 reads and 61 comments. Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Jackie Font-Guzmán noted in the release EMU’s harmful history, the beginning of the work towards holding and healing that harm, and that the event “represents the first time we are publicly acknowledging and celebrating LGBTQ+ history.”
In Memoriam: Terry Beitzel
CJP has long been a nurturing place of discernment and encouragement where many begin their journey and explore where their true work lies in the vast peacebuilding and conflict transformation fields. Terry Beitzel, who died of COVID-19 in January 2021, was one of those who came to CJP looking for answers. After a year of study here in the early 2000’s, he went on to earn a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution at George Mason University and to work at James Madison University as professor and director of the Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence. He remained strongly connected to EMU and CJP, however, teaching in the undergraduate social science programs and at CJP as an adjunct professor while studying at GMU. Beitzel also mentored many CJP alumni in research and academic publishing. (1,700 reads)
Transitions
Readers were interested in transitions at CJP this spring: combined totals of hits on the following articles reached nearly 2,800:
- The departure of Professor Carl Stauffer to the US Institute of Peace in February 2021;
- In the same month, an announcement of EMU’s new executive director of diversity, equity, and inclusion Dr. Jacqueline N. Font-Guzmán (formerly professor of law and conflict studies and director of Creighton University’s Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Program);
- A summer 2021 announcement of a talented new group of faculty and staff.
Jan. 6
CJP readers looked to the center and to EMU for a response after the Jan. 6 insurrection in Washington D.C. A combined 1,000 readers viewed an article summarizing EMU response, which included links to CJP’s reflection with context, analysis, and resources (published on the Peacebuilder webpage).
Alicia Garza and CJP’s 25th anniversary
News about our rescheduled 25+1 Anniversary Celebration in summer 2021 combined to reach the fourth spot. Readers enjoyed the preview article and post-event coverage. The announcement of available recordings has also become an important resource.
CJP grad in Libya
Our news articles often share good news about the work our alumni are doing around the world. This year’s highlight was the appointment of lawyer and human rights activist Najla El Mangoush MA ‘15 as Libya’s first female foreign minister in March 2021.
And once again, our All-Time Greatest Hit: Mark Loving on ‘Loving’
CJP readers might be interested to know that our 2021 Top Read, at 19,572 clicks, and our All-Time Greatest Hit with more than 65,200 total clicks is the 2016 article on Mark Loving and his great grandparents. Mark, then a sophomore, generously shared the story of his great-grandparents, Mildred and Richard Loving, as he and his family prepared to attend the Charlottesville world premiere of the movie “Loving.” June 12, the anniversary of their successful Supreme Court case to allow interracial marriage, is now celebrated widely in the United States (and around the world, as well). Mark graduated in 2019 and is pursuing his goal of becoming a physical therapist.
Quite. Impressed and would like to apply.