The sun began to set, and while the rest of campus was settling down after a long day of classes, a group of students sat in an intimate circle in the academic quad. This was the scene of Monday evening’s discussion, “Let’s talk about sex.”
This discussion is part of a week long event hosted by The Compton Center for Peace and Justice, which will facilitate discussions about issues centered around consent and the ‘gray area’ often associated with it. Students shared their opinions openly and freely as student leaders guided the conversation.
With the array of colorful banners and tents, Peace Camp is hard to miss. Located in the Academic Quad, Peace Camp is a series of events held from Oct. 2 through Oct. 6.
The purpose of the camp, according to junior Barbara Castellini, is to start dialogue on campus. “I know we hear that word [‘dialogue’] a lot, but one of my biggest goals is to educate DePauw students, learn from them, teach people something, and just get conversation about social justice going,” Castellini said.
Castellini, a second-year intern with the Compton Center, is one of many interns who works the camp. The Compton Center, established in 2000, is stationed in the Hartman House. Some Compton Center interns camp overnight in the tents to add an element of fun to their Peace Camp experience. They also host a series of discussions and workshops about various topics which are important to them, such as colorism in interracial relationships, changes to Title IX, Trauma and Academic Resilience.
Katie Wade, a sophomore and first-year Compton Center intern, shares Castellini’s goal of education. “For me, I consider sex ed really important. A lot of kids go to college without a thorough understanding of what sexual education and consent are. For us, one of the best ways to make change is to educate.”
An annual event since the late 1900s, Peace Camp has continued to be a tradition on DePauw’s campus. With numerous daily events on a variety of topics, Peace Camp provides an open space for the discussion of social issues.
Matt Cummings, the director of the Compton Center, thinks Peace Camp is a great place for student discussion. “This is a space for students to talk about social and justice issues that are important to them and to bring those issues to the campus body. That’s why you see a variety of topics ranging from inner reflection to Title IX to race relations on campus; all the get people exposed to new ideas,” Cummings said.
The slogan of the Compton Center for Peace and Justice, according to Cummings, is “passion, purpose, and action.” Peace Camp is one of the center’s tools to act on their motto. “While we want to spark dialogue, the ultimate goal is to inspire people to action,” Castellini said.
Peace Camp events and workshops will be occurring multiple times each day until the end of the week. A printed schedule of events is placed variously throughout campus, specifically in dorms and Hoover Dining Hall. Chalk messages also serve as guides to the academic quad and encourage students and faculty to attend.