Peace, justice, and advocacy: Bethel College Students engage in critical conversations at a peace conference
Bethel students reflect on the lessons they learned from a recent trip to a peace conference in Harrisonburg, Va.
At the end of February, members of Bethel College’s Community Justice and Peace group attended a peace conference in Harrisonburg, Va. This annual event typically includes participation from Anabaptist or Mennonite colleges and universities.
Several Bethel students attended, including Meriem Dhoubi, a freshman from Tunisia, Rabia Kübra Can, a senior from Wuppertal, Germany, and Peter Buller, a senior from North Newton. The conference explored issues related to Palestine, and the ongoing conflict impacting both Palestinian and Indigenous communities.
Reflecting on the experience, Buller shared, “Many speakers are from Mennonite Action. They stand for ending the war in Gaza and a free Palestine. Their efforts began after the war escalated, and they are deeply interested in action and living out their faith. They advocate that the U.S. stop funding the war and giving weapons to Israel. They want both sides to live in dignity and humanity.”
Reflecting on the conference, Kübra Can discussed the importance of advocacy and collaboration, stating, “The workshop was about how we can take action on minorities and how we can support them. There were five or six colleges that were part of the conference, and we got to build relationships, which was fun.” She added, “I wanted to see other people's perspectives on this matter because it was important for me.”
The students reflected on meaningful moments from the conference, with Buller highlighting the impact of various seminars. He shared, “There were other seminars happening there. One organization was about the Democratic Republic of Congo and efforts to help refugees and children. Another was presented by EMU students, showcasing actions they took last year to push their university to take a stance on the ceasefire. They demonstrated how to do direct action and how we can apply that in our own experience.”
Kübra Can found particular value in hearing personal stories and shared, “I appreciated hearing from Palestinian families firsthand. One of the speakers shared how his community was actively engaged in supporting Palestine. We saw videos that showed the reality of people suffering.”
She added, “The best part was seeing a different part of the U.S. Mennonites in Virginia are focused on academics, and since Harrisonburg is much more diverse than Newton, I got to meet different people with different perspectives.”
Dhoubi echoed similar sentiments, “Going to the conference and meeting people who know that this is a genocide and who have taken the time to educate themselves—being able to interact with those people was very refreshing, and I learned so much.”
All three students encouraged others to attend similar conferences. Kübra Can emphasized, “Even if this topic does not directly affect you, you are indirectly a part of it through funding, donations, etc. You always have to think, ‘What if it was you?’ Try to get as much information and as many perspectives as possible. Stay focused and informed.”
“Even if this topic does not directly affect you, you are indirectly a part of it through funding, donations, etc. You always have to think, ‘What if it was you?’ Try to get as much information and as many perspectives as possible. Stay focused and informed.”
Rabia Kübra Can
Buller added, “Building connections with that community brings energy that you can share with people in need. The world won’t automatically change—it needs people to care.”
Outside the conference, students had the opportunity to visit a ski resort, go snow tubing, and enjoy meals at Japanese restaurants and ice cream shops. Staying in the dorms at Eastern Mennonite University also allowed them to connect with students and experience a different campus dynamic.
This experience provided an opportunity for attendees to hear from knowledgeable individuals who are actively engaged in addressing global injustices. Gaining insight from these perspectives encouraged reflection on the importance of staying informed and aware of the issues affecting communities worldwide.