Since both the Columbine and the Virginia Tech massacres happened in April 1999 and 2007, respectively, the Ball State Center for Peace and Conflict Studies is making an effort to promote non-violence throughout the week.
Monday through Friday marks the first BSU Peace Week, with events including a scavenger hunt, film screening, presentations and a conflict resolution challenge.
Junior Kelly Lamb, an organizer of the conflict resolution and intern at the center, said April is the most violent month for universities and colleges, but there is no explanation for it.
During the conflict resolution challenge, teams will be given a scenario that could happen at Ball State. They have an hour and a half to discuss their solution before presenting a 15-minute proposal.
The winning team will win an award worth $40, consisting of gift certificates, T-shirts and other items.
There are five teams of two to four students participating and the challenge will be today in Whitinger Business Building Room 136.
The scenario the Peace Center came up with is something that has happened at other universities, said Lamb.
"I think the students that have chosen to participate are going to see just how difficult it is to work for something like a peace center or even as someone higher up in administration at a university," Lamb said.
The teams will not know what the scenario is beforehand.
"The challenge that we've given them, it's really hard to make everyone happy," Lamb said. "And it's just like in real life where you have to weigh your options and you have to figure out what's best for the students and what's best for everyone."
Emily Mastroianni, graduate assistant at the Peace Center, said the students participating will act as if they are working at the center.
"It just makes sense with the Peace Week theme, and it was more of a hands on experience for people to really think, 'What if there was a conflict on campus?'" Mastroianni said.
Mastroianni added that she hopes students will want to participate because of the competition factor and because there is a time limit, which will put pressure on them.
"I think it's a great way to put some skills that they've probably already been learning in the classroom through their majors to good use," Mastroianni said. "It's also a fun thing. We're really hoping it's something that's engaging in both a fun and challenging way."
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