News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2009

COTTEY PEACE WEEK EVENTS, SEPT. 21-26

The United Nations' International Day of Peace-marked every year on September 21-is a global holiday when individuals, communities, nations, and governments highlight efforts to end conflict and promote peace. Established in 1982, "Peace Day" has grown to include millions of people around the world who participate in all kinds of events, large and small. Cottey College has several special events planned for its Second Annual Peace Week, scheduled for September 21-26. All of the events, except for Ha Ha Tonka on Thursday, are free.

Monday, September 21, at 5 p.m. students, faculty, staff, and friends are invited to the Hinkhouse athletic field to join hands and create a peace sign to commemorate the United Nations' International Day of Peace.

On Tuesday, September 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Missouri Recital Hall, Dr. Rita Stephan, this year's guest in the P.E.O. Speaker Series, will give an address. Dr. Stephan is a research associate at the Lebanese Emigration Research Center at Notre Dame University in Lebanon. She is the recipient of the P.E.O. Scholar Award, the American Association of University Women's Dissertation Fellowship and Seeds of Peace's Young Peacemaker award. Rita earned her Ph. D. in May 2009 in sociology with a portfolio in gender and women's studies; she has a master's degree in international peace and conflict resolution, and a bachelor's degree in international relations and Jewish studies.

A special film will be shown on Wednesday, September 23, at 8 p.m. in the Missouri Recital Hall. ICYIZERE is a film about the power of, and the need for, forgiveness. This powerful documentary by Patrick Mureithi is about a 3-day gathering of 10 survivors and 10 perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, as they are taught about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and go through a series of group exercises that help to build trust.

The band Ha Ha Tonka will perform on Thursday, September 24 at 8 p.m. in Raney Dining Room. With sanctified four-part harmonies and blistering rock, this band that hails from Springfield, Missouri, shares their dark view of the realities of socioeconomic hardship, backwoods prejudices, and drug abuse leavened by wry humor and a deep appreciation for regional storytelling traditions. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for those under age 18 or over age 62. Tickets will be available at the door the night of the show.

Celebrate Cottey's 125th Anniversary and the final event of Peace Week. Cottey is pleased to host its Open House and Showcase from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, September 26. Tour the buildings; meet faculty, staff, and students; hear the jazz band; watch dance and theatre rehearsals; see a chemistry lab class in action; and have an olde-tyme photo of yourself taken. Check in at the Center for the Arts for information packets and to register for door prizes. At 5 p.m., join the Cottey Community at the Peace Pole for a concluding event. Enjoy the inspiring sounds of the Cottey Choir and join members of Cottey's international community as they declare "May Peace Prevail on Earth."

The Recital Hall is inside the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts on the northeast corner of Austin and Tower streets in Nevada, Missouri. Raney Dining Room is in the lower level of Robertson Hall on the southeast corner of Austin and Tower streets. Parking is available in the lot immediately south of Robertson which is accessible off of Tower. The Peace Pole is in the garden behind the Chapel.