Elizabethtown College is offering opportunities to hear from diverse perspectives to allow for the building of a stronger community. Part of that effort is seen through the Ware Lecture, which is sponsored by the Ware Family and intended to encourage peacemaking in the campus community and in their larger lives. Speakers from years prior, which included Pulitzer prize winning authors and human rights advocates, have captivated the community with their voices and experiences.
This year’s Ware Lecture speaker, Jemelle Hill, brought forth dialogue regarding the journalism industry, the racism and targeting she has experienced throughout her career, her experiences with trauma and the importance of perspective when writing and also when talking with others in online spaces. Guests not only got to hear her insightful commentary, but also got the opportunity to get their book signed and questions answered afterwards.
For students who were inspired by the Ware lecture and its messaging, the Center for Global Understanding and Peacemaking (CGUP) announced alongside the lecture that they would be holding a photo essay competition, where students could submit photos and captions that tell the story of the lecture from their unique perspective.
“Our community is fortunate to have a rich array of speakers visit our campus to share their experiences, knowledge and expertise. The Ware Lecture is one of these opportunities and the CGUP team wanted to encourage and support students’ attendance and participation. We also wanted to celebrate the creative talent of our students and center their perspective of the event. The lecture, supported by a generous endowed fund created by the Ware family, is also to be celebrated,” Shannon Haley-Mize, associate professor of education and director of CGUP, said.
This provides a unique opportunity for creative expression and recognition that students may otherwise not get during their undergraduate careers. Students have full creative freedom to express their perspective of the lecture through their photos and captions that must have a compelling narrative past what is seen on the surface. Regarding the submissions, it is possible that two people entering the competition could have completely different takeaways due to the flexibility of the requirements, which is not only allowed but encouraged.
“I think that is a really clever idea. Photography has the potential to show so many different stories and perspectives. Every person could potentially capture a different theme since everyone learns this type of material differently,” Stephanie Motz, third-year computer science major, said. “It interests me to see what piece of the lecture stood out to everyone and the different stories that will be told through their photos.”
The photo contest relates to the goals of the CGUP, as it embraces the dialogue created in the event and encourages it further outside of the event, which gives students time to reflect on their experience and their response to the experience.
Additionally, just by attending this lecture, students learn about peace, human dignity and social justice at a wider perspective than they may usually get in their classes and experiences at Etown, which is at the core of CGUP’s mission. Any amount of engagement creates betterment for the students and members of the campus community attending.
Overall, the Ware lecture photo contest allows for students to not only display their understanding of the current issues around the world–specifically in the media industry–but also display their artistic side. Despite the nature of a competition, at the end of the day the CGUP wants students to have fun and have full creative force in their submissions. For any students interested, the deadline to submit is April 26 and all questions about the contest can be answered by the CGUP by emailing cgup@etown.edu. The winner will be announced on May 5, 2024 and will have their work featured in the High Library and other venues around campus alongside a monetary prize of $500.
