MSU Home > Centers of Study > Kessel Institute > Inventory
Kessel
Institute for the Study of Peace and Change (KISPC)The Kessel Lecture Series approaches its 10th year, supported by the Political Science Department; the Kessel Discussion Group, currently hosted by a historian, has a much longer tradition since it was begun by Kessel during his years at MSU. The proposed annual conference will be modeled after the highly successful Women and Spirituality conference at MSU, which attracts approximately 800 participants each year to a keynote lecture and 70-100 workshops. The Speakers' Bureau will use the campus-wide database maintained by the MSU News Service as a point of departure, adding students and community resources to the roster of KISPC speakers.
KISPC will provide "Peace Scholarships" as resources become available, encouraging peace studies in all disciplines. Descriptions of all existing scholarships whose criteria match the Institute's mission will also be collected and publicized (e.g., Sponberg Peace Scholarships in History and Political Science are awarded to young women active in the promotion of peace). The Institute will work to create a "critical mass" of support for students/faculty committed to peace studies and promotion, including publication of related materials.
The Institute will also provide leadership in developing curriculum, program activities, and library resources for the University and the region. MSU faculty have developed programs in area studies, international relations, environmental studies, urban and regional studies, and a series of courses on violence and abuse that will serve both as resources and as models for the Kessel Institute's curriculum and program development activities.
Successful models also exist on the campus for the outreach activities proposed by KISPC. Current summer youth camps emphasize skill development in music, sports, and academics. KISPC will offer opportunities for study, reflection, and skill development for peace. Similarly, nearly 20 years of Elderhostel program experience by the Gerontology Program will benefit the Institute as plans are made to bring prospective older adult participants into the Institute's various summer programs.
The mediation services envisioned for the Institute have been initiated as a result of a statewide mandate to prepare students in pre-professional programs (such as teaching, nursing, social work and law enforcement) to deal with issues of violence and abuse. Teams of students began designing this program during Winter Quarter 1995 with a start-up budget of approximately $16,000 from State of Minnesota grant funds. The initial goal is to provide a formal structure for students to safely resolve conflicts with other students or with faculty.
The Mediation Center will also accept referrals from the Student Conduct Board, work toward prevention of violence and abuse, and provide internship opportunities for students seeking to develop mediation skills. MSU faculty will have an opportunity to share specialized skills in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution from a variety of disciplinary and professional perspectives as the Center becomes more established as a community-wide resource.
Finally, the University plays a major role in educating teachers and school administrators, as well as providing a variety of adult continuing education opportunities. This infrastructure will provide a starting point for the Kessel Institute's proposed educational programs and activities for the community beyond the MSU campus.
Taken as a whole, these existing resources provide a supportive environment for the Kessel Institute for the Study of Peace and Change. The Institute will be a focal point for the campus, community, the region and beyond, bringing together the values articulated by Kessel throughout his life's work: re-establishment of the community; reducing violence, whether personal or political; and saving the ecosphere.
The Kessel Institute for the Study of Peace and Change
Phone:(507) 389-1561