ISCO talks unity during annual Peace Walk
The International Student Cultural Organization (ISCO) raised its flags high during the annual ISCO Peace Walk Wednesday night.
The Peace Walk was made to symbolize international peace and celebrate the International Day of Peace, which was the previous Monday. For ISCO Faculty Adviser Dr. Jay Valentine, the Peace Walk is a great way to directly address peace on campus.
“To have at least one day of the year where we explicitly talk about [peace], and we put it in terms that are not just implied, I think is a very good thing to do on an annual basis,” Valentine said.
For ISCO President Bella Stevens, a sophomore anthropology major from Auburn, Alabama, the event highlighted community between domestic and international students.
“You’re looking at everyone beside you and we’re all smiling or singing the song together,” Stevens said.
“When that happens, it brings a moment of serenity like ‘Ah yes, this is what the world should be, and this is what peace looks like.’”
Guest speakers discussed the meaning of peace and how to use it in everyday life. According to guest speaker and Senior Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Sohail Agboatwala, peace is built gradually.
"Peace is not about treaties that countries sign," Agboatwala said. "Peace is about what we do with relationships with each other.
“We have to get to a point where we don't hate each other."
Agboatwala also emphasized the importance of celebrating peace every day of the year, not just on the International Day of Peace.
"What today means is just a chance to talk about it, but the other 364 days of the year give us a chance to practice what we talk about today," Agboatwala said. "It's not about what we do now; it's about what we do all the time."
During the event, students marched from Hawkins Hall to Rushing Hall before surrounding the International Arts Center plaza, where flags lined the outside border.
"It's always a very moving moment when students show up with flags of the world, just visually [and] aesthetically," Valentine said.
At the end of the night, students were left with the message ‘It's not peace out, it's peace in.’
ISCO will be holding its annual ISCO Festival during International Education Week, where members will further celebrate community between different cultures from across the world. In order to receive updates for that event and any other ISCO event, follow their Instagram at isco_troyu.
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