"Exploring Communities Today": Undergraduate Annual Spring Conference
As the university pushes for more emphasis on undergraduate scholarship opportunities, S-CAR proudly displayed its commitment to George Mason University’s Students as Scholars Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) at its Second Annual Spring Conference. The conference was established in 2010 as a means to provide an outlet for undergraduate research in the field of conflict analysis and resolution. This year’s installment, titled “Exploring Communities Today: Dilemmas & Opportunities,” focused on the program’s mezzo concentration.
The conference hosted nine participants who submitted papers from around the country, as well as from various academic units within the university. This diversity correlated with the variety of research topics discussed, which included the role of video games in conflict, sustainable transportation, and the impact Facebook has on social revolution. The award for best paper was given to Mary B. Chamberlain from James Madison University for her paper titled Post-Genocide Conflict Resolution: A Comparative Case Study of the Holocaust and Rwanda.
The conference also served as a platform for this year’s crop of graduating seniors to display their culminating project from CONF 490, the undergraduate program’s capstone course. Under the instruction of Professor Daniel Rothbart, each student created a visual display of a specific conflict that included historical background information on the conflict parties, causes and consequences of the conflict, and a conflict map. Students presented their analyses to judges who included Professors Agnieszka Paczynska, Patricia Maulden, Julie Shedd, Lisa Shaw, and Susan Hirsch, among others. Those in attendance were met with a variety of topics, including Somali piracy, U.S./Mexican drug trafficking, labor disputes in the steel industry, and the debate over the definition of marriage. Christian Mullins received the award for top poster for his work, “Afghanistan: A History of Civil Strife.”
With the room at full capacity, the event concluded with a keynote address from Anas “Andy” Shallal, community activist and owner of the renowned D.C.-metropolitan chain Busboys and Poets. Shallal focused on the importance of bringing the community together and encouraging differing or opposing viewpoints to be heard and discussed. He facilitates this type of dialogue through open mic nights, artwork, and mediated discussions at his restaurants. Shallal was peppered with questions ranging from the origin of the name Busboys and Poets to whether he’s hiring at the moment.
At the end of the day, it was evident that the ICAR Undergraduate Program Second Annual Spring Conference accomplished what it was established to do. The recognition of scholarship was palpable throughout the day, from the presentations by the panelists in the morning to the entire lower level of the building buzzing with students and faculty inquiring about one another’s research in the afternoon. With the success of this year’s conference, the undergraduate program looks forward to making the Annual Spring Conference a marquee event in the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution’s future.