Student Unions Programs & Activities (SUPA) :: Forum Committee

The September 11 tragedy affected the entire campus community in more ways than we can imagine. More than one month later, events are still unfolding. The President has declared a 'new war' on terrorism, the American flag is increasingly visible, and the U.S. military began an air strike against Afghanistan.

The Twin Cities Student Unions Programs and Activities Board has created a series of campus community forums to discuss these events titled "The World Since 9-11." The forums will give students a venue to share ideas and head different prespectives on the issues they hear about daily in the news.

Nearly 50 people attended the first event, "Middle East Perspectives," on Thursday, Oct. 25. Panelists introduced the audience to the Middle East region, including a background on what it was like growing up in the Middle East, a history on the Israel/Palestine conflict, and also U.S. policies that have affected U.S./Arab relations. For more, read Minnesota Daily coverage on the event.

The second forum on Thursday, Nov. 8 gave the University community a chance to hear several different "U.S. Perspectives" on the September 11 tragedy, including from a local nurse who was sent to the Pentagon after the attack and a representative from the Arab Student Association who discussed the anti-Arab racism students have faced since the attacks.

On Wednesday, Nov. 14, the University community had the opportunity to discuss the global impact of September 11, including capitalization, globalization, and the inequalities they cause in the world.