MU | Peace Studies
Each year , Manchester ’ s Peace Studies Institute hires a student who has recently graduated to fill the role of peace studies coordinator . This one-year , full-time position is responsible for coordinating extracurricular activities of the peace studies program . While not always the case , the coordinator is generally a freshly graduated peace studies student .
The position , first known as the “ peace studies intern ,” became “ peace studies coordinator ” in 2009 when the program began paying half the wages . In 2019 , an endowment to peace studies allowed the program to begin paying full wages .
Virginia Rendler ’ 20 was peace studies coordinator for two years after she graduated . A philosophy and peace studies major who also led the Kenapocomoco Peace Coalition as president her senior year , Rendler was the model coordinator .
Influenced by coordinators who came before her and shaped her Manchester experience , she wanted to give back in a similar way .
“ My experience specifically with co-curricular activities organized and facilitated by those coordinators gave me so much confidence and developed my practical skills both in and out of the classroom , and I wanted to attempt to be a part of that impact on other students ,” Rendler said .
Tina Rieman ’ 94 followed a less traditional path that led to her taking the position of peace studies intern . An English major , Rieman attended meetings of the Kenapocomoco Peace Coalition every Monday night but had only taken one peace studies course . After graduating , she did Brethren Volunteer Service work for two years before returning to North Manchester .
“ In my case , because I had gone away for two years , it was probably harder for me because I was out of the context of Manchester and didn ’ t know as many people as someone who graduates and goes right into it ,” Rieman said . “ Also , I wasn ’ t a major . So even though I was involved , it wasn ’ t my only circle . And I didn ’ t have the context of all the peace studies courses .”
Gathering spaces for peace studies students have long been kept up by the coordinators and have taken a variety of forms over the decades . One such space is the peace studies lounge . For Rieman , the lounge was on the second floor of the Administration Building . With comfortable seating and large windows to let in plenty of light , it was a “ vibrant atmosphere ,” as Rieman described it , for members of the program to meet . Rieman and Ken Brown , the late former director of the program , each had their own offices next to the lounge for easy access . A “ giant ” magazine shelf offered reading for anyone who wanted to catch up on current events .
Now , the peace studies lounge , typically shortened by students to “ PSL ,” is in the Martha and Joseph Cunningham Academic Center . Instead of having a separate office , the coordinator ’ s desk is in the lounge itself . Floor to ceiling shelves hold books on peace studies-related subjects for anyone to read . Coffee hours are often hosted in the lounge , the topics of which range from internship opportunities to international affairs .
The Peace House , across the street from Helman Hall , is the place coordinators have called home year after year . The Gladdys Muir Peace Garden is a spot frequented by both community members and students , but not everyone knows that the house connected to the Garden is almost always occupied by the peace studies coordinator .
“ It took a while to get used to living in a house by myself , but I am grateful that I get to live on campus and walk to work ,” said 2022- 2023 coordinator Kendall Brown ’ 22 . “ The house has so much room for events ; this year we have had dinners and game nights . The peace garden is a wonderful space that I enjoy spending time in and seeing others spend time in . We have picnics and other events in the garden , as well as our Homecoming celebration each year .”
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