A cross-campus initiative that seeks to motivate greater responsiveness to the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities has announced the recipients of its inaugural project grants.

The initiative, "Genocide and Mass Atrocities: Responsibility to Prevent," examines personal and political responses to mass atrocities from the perspective of numerous disciplines. It has been spearheaded by the University of Oregon School of Law's Appropriate Dispute Resolution Center, in partnership with the Carlton and Wilberta Ripley Savage Endowment for International Relations and Peace and the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs.

Through a commitment from the Savage Endowment, the initiative provides up to $20,000 annually to support eligible programs proposed by UO faculty, staff and students.

The 2013-14 project grant recipients are:

• "Preventing Further Genocide and Mass Atrocities in Guatemala and Beyond." Submitted by: Lynn Stephen (Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies, Anthropology), Carlos Aguirre (History, Latin American Studies), Gabriela Martinez (School of Journalism & Communication), Michelle McKinley (School of Law), Stephanie Wood (Fulbright Senior Specialist).
• "Overcoming Psychic Numbing: Creating Better Media Coverage of Mass Atrocity." Submitted by: Scott Maier (School of Journalism and Communication), Paul Slovic (Psychology).
• "African Peacebuilding Project." Submitted by: Barbara Tint (Conflict and Dispute Resolution, School of Law), Emmalee McDonald (African Studies; Conflict and Dispute Resolution, School of Law).
• "Building Response-Based Undergraduate Curriculum and Course Content Concerning Genocide and its Prevention." Galen Martin (International Studies).

Applications were reviewed and considered by an interdisciplinary, cross-campus steering committee composed of faculty, administrators and students.

"The committee is quite pleased with the innovative, collaborative and prevention-oriented nature of these four projects," said David Frank, dean of the UO Clark Honors College and chair of the Savage Committee. "They exemplify thoughtful creativity and a dedication to action." 

A call for 2014-15 project proposals will be released in late fall and will be posted on the Savage Endowment for International Relations and Peace web page.

- from the UO School of Law