William Borah would no doubt beam with pride at the lineup of leaders and dignitaries making their way to the University of Idaho campus this month. The symposium named in the late senator’s honor hosts a tripleheader of keynote speakers as it celebrates 75 years of enriching discussion surrounding war and peace. The Borah Symposium comes on the heels of the Idaho Asia Institute’s “Remembering Hiroshima” events and the College of Law’s Bellwood Memorial Lecture, which featured U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Barchas Prelogar. They provided incredible engagement for the campus community and the symposium aims to do the same. “The symposium provides a system of engagement that gives us reminders of the things that are necessary for long term peace,” said Bill Smith, director of the Borah Foundation, which sponsors the symposium. “The Borah Foundation was established between the world wars, and the symposium addresses issues that reach every corner of Idaho.” Borah served in the U.S. senate for 33 years and Time magazine once called him, “the most famed senator of the century.” Nicknamed the “Lion of Idaho,” Borah chaired the Foreign Relations Committee for 10 years. The powerful Republican was roundly respected on both sides of the aisle, demonstrated by Democratic first lady Eleanor Roosevelt delivering the inaugural keynote at the Borah Symposium in 1938. The symposium became an annual event in 1948 and is planned by a faculty-student committee. Over the years, speakers such as Frank Church and Thurgood Marshall inspired the community to consider the causes of war and the conditions necessary for lasting peace. This year’s event, “75 Years on Behalf of Peace,” begins Sept. 22 with a panel discussion. Francisco Rafael Sagasti Hochhausler, the former president of Peru, will speak on Sept. 27. Lieutenant General Erik Peterson, a U of I alumnus and current Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8 in the U.S. Army, will discuss “War and Peace in the 21st Century” on Sept. 28. The closing keynote later that day, Prince Zeid Bin Ra'ad, of Jordan, former UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, will address, “Global Challenges to Human Rights Today." While students are one of the audiences for the symposium, Smith is proud of the event’s legacy of spurring lifelong learning in the community. The prominent speakers bring diverse backgrounds, and their visits often have long-lasting impacts. “This is an event where the broader impact is really meaningful,” Smith said. “Through these discussions we can examine how global conflict arises and the things that are necessary for long term peace. It really provides a value that’s different from what’s programmed at other universities.” |