Holy Cross Students to Discuss Genocide Prevention at Public Policy Symposium

On Jan. 28, more than 25 Holy Cross students will meet to discuss the nature of genocide and the emerging international policy norm known as the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) as part of the sixth annual Presidential Scholars Public Policy Symposium on campus.

The annual symposium provides an intellectually challenging forum for Presidential Scholars to explore compelling issues of public policy with their peers. Previously the scholars have confronted policy challenges related to global warming, U.S. immigration, global health issues, domestic violence, and the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake.

Presidential Scholars hold academic merit scholarships, most of which are awarded based on achievement in high school. The College awards all the scholarships, e.g., the Brooks (music), Bean (classics), and Clavius (science) with the exception of the Gates Millennium Scholarship. Unique among Presidential Scholars are the Charles A. Dana Scholars, who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and sterling character. Dana Scholars are selected from applicants who have earned a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average and have been recommended by faculty.

Participants in this year’s symposium come from all four class years and a wide variety of majors.

The symposium will be facilitated by Charles Anderton, professor of economics at Holy Cross, who is an expert in the economics of genocide and co-author  (with Holy Cross economics professor John Carter) of "Principles of Conflict Economics: A Primer for Social Scientists" (Cambridge University Press, 2009).

Following an introductory overview of the multidisciplinary field of genocide studies, Presidential Scholars will work through a case study of the 1994 Rwandan genocide by means of a documentary film and breakout discussion groups.

During and after lunch, the scholars will form into groups to take part in a real-time simulation exercise on the operational and policy challenges of implementing R2P. This simulation is also used in the real world to train diplomats and military officers. Like them, scholars will confront a crisis situation in which a nation stands at the brink of civil war and civilian massacres. Following a simulation debrief, the symposium will close with an overview of likely future directions in the work of genocide prevention.

The event is hosted by the Dean’s Office and coordinated by Christina Chen, director of Academic Services and Learning Resources.