Bowie State University will tackle the growing problem of campus violence with Peace Week, a weeklong series of events March 26 – March 31 aimed at stemming campus violence, promoting peace and helping students correctly solve conflicts without resorting to violence.

“Bowie State recognizes that violence on campuses is a growing problem across the country,” says Thomasina Boardley, coordinator of student conduct and special assistant to the vice president of Student Affairs. “Many students are not being taught how to resolve conflict and settle disputes in a constructive and peaceful way. We want students to realize that there are better ways to overcome conflict.”

This is Bowie State’s first Peace Week. The week’s events are a response to increased incidents of violence on college campuses, especially among female students. Through Peace Week, students will gain a broader understanding of how to keep stressful situations from escalating into violence.

While targeted to Bowie State students, faculty and staff, Peace Week events are open to the community. Event highlights include an all-female faculty, staff and student symposium about the impact of social media on conflict escalation on Wednesday, March 28 and a panel discussion on using peaceful dialogue to overcome conflict featuring panelists from Frostburg State University, the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore and other regional universities on Thursday, March 29. Additional events will focus on fostering positive student interactions and providing creative outlets for expression.

Peace Week will culminate on Saturday, March 31 when the university hosts the Capital Area Association for Peace Studies (CAAPS) 25th Annual Student Conference. CAAPS was founded in 1988 to promote cooperation among peace studies programs in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The conference will give students from various D.C.-area colleges and universities the opportunity to present research and participate in panel discussions on subjects ranging from conflict resolution to social justice at the national and international levels.

The conference, on average, draws 150 to 300 participants and is free and open to the general public.

Bowie State volunteered to host this year’s event.

“Undergraduate students do not usually present research in conference settings, so this conference provides students with a unique opportunity to build scholarship in the area of peace studies and network with students from across the region,” says Marcia Thompson, professor of criminal justice in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Human Services and the Bowie State CAAPS coordinator.

In addition to Bowie State, 13 other D.C.-area colleges and universities will participate in the conference.

Interested presenters and attendees can contact Marcia Thompson at mthompson@bowiestate.edu or 301-860-3173 for a complete conference agenda and registration information.