
Conference of World Affairs attendees walk along the iconic path of flags at the conference in 2009. (CU Independent file/Molly Maher)
CU will host the 63rd Conference on World Affairs (CWA) this week.
The conference will commence Monday and will last through Friday.
The CWA was originally founded in 1948. It was a forum on international affairs, which then expanded to include the arts, media, science, diplomacy, technology, environment, spirituality, politics, business, medicine and human rights in its early years.
This year, nearly 100 participants will be attending the conference to deliver speeches and presentations on various key issues and topics in the world today. Among them will be Gordon Adams, Zulfigar Ahmad and many others who have contributed extensively in their fields.
Mary Rochelle, a 21-year-old junior news-editorial major, is one of the student volunteer coordinators for the event. She said she first attended this conference during her freshman year at the university.
“I think this a great event to be involved in,” Rochelle said. “It’s a diverse conference covering a wide range of topics that includes a wide range of speakers as well. One of the topics I am looking forward to this year is about medical marijuana, called ‘Yes, We Can Cannabis,’ to be presented by Gordon Adams, Gooding, James Tanabe and Jo Belle Yonely.”
Other issues that will be addressed in this year’s conference include ‘Can Multi-ethnic Nations Succeed,’ ‘Death to the Death Penalty’ and ‘Building a Sustainable Green Economy,’ along with many others.
Briana Moreland, a 19-year-old sophomore MCD biology major, said she has never been to the conference despite hearing so much about it last year.
“I look forward to seeing panels speak about human rights issues and development in the medicine world because I am interested in that and it relates to my major as well,” Moreland said. “I would try to stay away from environmental topics just because it is not in my interest.”
Despite having been an annual event for over half a century, there are still students who have never been exposed to the conference.
Jordan Miranda, a 19-year-old sophomore anthropology major, said she is one of these students.
“I had heard vaguely about this event that happened last year, but have no idea what it is about,” Miranda said.
The conference will begin April 4 at 8:30 a.m. with panelist Jim Emerson. There will also be a student brunch at 10 a.m. on Norlin Quadrangle, where students will have the chance to meet some of this year’s panelists.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Adelina Shee at Adelina.shee@colorado.edu.