49th Frank Church Symposium draws panel from around the country

An academic symposium at ISU kicks of today through tomorrow evening. The Frank Church Symposium, named after a Boise senator through the 1970s, will host refugees and activists. This year’s theme is environmental justice, refugee rights, and minorities.

There are more than 10-panel speakers that will discuss these issues, all from various academic institutions, environmental and human rights organizations. Steve Feldstein, a professor at Boise State and held many titles various government agencies will be the keynote speaker.

This symposium is in its 48th year at ISU, discussing pertinent issues of the time. However, this year’s theme was heavily debated. Idaho being a predominantly a conservative state, many students felt that environmental, refugee and minority rights issues should be acknowledged.

Paige Tarr, an ISU Student and President of International Affairs Council, said, “We just wanted to bring these topics to light in a more conservative area so people could hear the other side of the topic and another side of the conversation, so people aren’t afraid to talk about politics because politics have become such a bipartisan issue polarized. We wanted people to come together in a room in a safe place and discuss topics that otherwise wouldn’t be discussed.”

The student members wanted various experts on these topics to present their research and expertise to educate the region through discussion and deliberation.