Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 1/14/08 Section: News

HOLLY PARKER [Click to enlarge]

Learn, advocate and change.

Those words were used multiple times Saturday during the seventh-annual Issue Day Conference.

The event was divided into three sessions, giving students the opportunity to choose which speaker and social issue they were interested in.

"I think so many issues are presented, it opens the world to us," said Sarnac senior Katie Jourdan.

The purpose of Issue Day is for students to gain knowledge on various social issues and take their knowledge into the world to make a difference.

Nearly 20 speakers, including professors and students, spoke on 17 different social justice issues such as HIV/AIDS in Africa, rural poverty and myths addressing aging.

The Volunteer Center, with help from Issue Day Adviser Tim Novak and Issue Day Student Coordinator and Marne senior Hillary Forslund, put on the conference in the Bovee University Center's Rotunda.

Issue Day kicked off with opening speaker Matt Schantz, a 1991 CMU alumnus who serves as Campus Minister at His House Christian Fellowship.

He spoke on his experiences with volunteering, including his most recent opportunity with his family in the Dominican Republic.

Issue Day concluded with Keynote Speaker, Vice Provost of Educational Leadership Mary Ellen Brandell.

The Volunteer Center requires students who are going on an Alternative Break in the near future to attend Issue Day. Recently, however, Issue Day has drawn students who want to learn about a variety of social issues.

Waterford senior Kyle Gentges is going on his first alternative break this spring, in which he will deal with state park preservation.

"I want to gain more knowledge on issues people don't really think about," Gentges said.


news@cm-life.com

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