Combining politics, creativity and debate, the annual Borah Symposium aims to bring the community closer together.
University of Idaho music professor and Borah Symposium Committee chair Barry Bilderback said the symposium is always informative – but he said he”s especially excited about this year”s theme.
He said the theme, Waging Peace, will take up humanitarian efforts and involve refugee situations around the world.
“We”re finding that in the current political climate, such a topic is very timely,” Bilderback said. “If you look throughout history, where there”s been instances of war, the idea of peace, if it wasn”t there as the onset as a desired outcome, certainly becomes one in time.”
Bill Smith, the director of the UI Martin Institute, said this seemingly global theme affects Idahoans as well, as many Idahoans are involved in things like the armed forces, international nonprofits and global health organizations.
“They need a peaceful world to coexist and succeed,” Smith said. “All the way around we need the global environment to be healthy for us.”
This is Smith”s 16th Borah Symposium. He said though the Borah Symposium has been slightly eclipsed by other large UI events, the symposium hasn”t lost its significance.
“It”s retained its place as a signature UI event that brings top-notch people from around the world to discuss relevant issues,” Smith said.
Bilderback said this is a unique opportunity for the Palouse community.
“It”s no news that Moscow, Idaho, is in a remote part of the country,” he said. “The opportunity of taking advantage of top-tiered presenters and talent is an opportunity to be exposed to some of the top thinkers in this area.”
More than anything, both Bilderback and Smith agreed that the symposium is extremely engaging.
“No matter what the topic,” Bilderback said, “because of the nature of the politics it will create some sort of dialogue.”
He said this dialogue is often soft debates on hot topics, and that the symposium is less about the number attendees, and more about their quality.
“The faculty, staff, and attendees are engaged,” Smith said. “It has both a legacy and freshness to it.”
One aspect of that freshness this year will be the premier of the Borah Symposium national anthem. Bilderback said it will kick off the event at 6:30 p.m. April 4.
The Borah Symposium will run through April 6.
Carly Scott can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Idaho_Scotty