For the past several years, Pace University’s International Disarmament Institute, the Political Science Department, and the Peace and Justice Studies program have collaborated to craft a joint statement on youth engagement and disarmament education to deliver to the UN’s First Committee during the General Assembly session.
This fall, Taylor Mangus ’23, Political Science, and Jeremiah Williams ’23, Political Science and Communication and Media Studies, led the effort in collecting research and information from their classmates in Matthew Bolton’s (PhD) class and reaching out to activists and organizations who are focusing on these issues nationally and internationally.
In addition to writing a longer statement to submit, Mangus and Williams worked to create a shorter, punchier version that was delivered via Zoom to the First Committee on Friday, October 8, 2021. Williams, selected by his classmates and the Peace and Justice Studies program to present the statement, then put on the finishing touches, using his public speaking background as the president of Pace Debates, the University’s student debate team, to finesse the language and delivery.
“This statement is not only a fantastic experience for Pace students, but it is really important for the United Nations to hear the voices of youth and to take them seriously as experts who have very real stakes in the work of the UN,” said Emily Welty, PhD, professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and director of the Peace and Justice Studies program.
