[MGSA-L] Refugee Symposium at Michigan State University

[Artemis Leontis]

This is not specific to Modern Greek Studies but connected to current
events.
*Refugee Symposium* <http://www.cal.msu.edu/refugeesymposium>

*Michigan State University Refugee Symposium: A Two-Day Conference for
Scholars/Community Members*

Organized by the German Program, Department of Linguistics & Germanic,
Slavic, Asian, and African Languages.

The refugee crisis in Europe is one of the defining events of the
twenty-first century. Whether or not Europe can hold itself together and
govern in solidarity in the face of both waves of refugees and growing
nationalistic sentiment within individual member states will define the
future economic, political and cultural order. How European policymakers
and citizens react to a crisis will also affect relationships with Middle
Eastern countries holding refugees, especially Turkey.

The global nature of the problem requires an innovative and
interdisciplinary approach. On the weekend of Friday, April 1 – Saturday,
April 2, we will bring together MSU faculty, staff, and local community
members for a symposium. This two-day conference will be organized around
three main questions:

- How do we count? Refugees, aid packages, and other data about public
health and behaviors are quantified. Frontex, the European border agency,
has admitted to counting refugees twice. Turkey is negotiating a
billion-dollar aid deal to seal its borders. What responsibilities do we
have to quantify correctly, and what tools are at our disposal to visualize
this data?

- How do we govern? The Schengen Agreement and Dublin III-Regulations which
process refugees within Europe and permit free travel have ceased to
function. What political changes await the European Union as various member
states begin to police their borders? How will new policies about refugee
toleration affect citizenship laws? What role will Germany play on the
European stage? What role will North America play in this crisis?

- How do we imagine? Traumatic experiences disrupt lives and psyches. How
will we reimagine not only the global order, but the possibilities
available to refugees after trauma?

The German Consul General in Chicago, Mr. Herbert Quelle; the President of
the Migration Policy Institute - Europe, Dr. Demetri Papademetriou, and
film producer Ms. Salam Sarwaza will each give presentations over this
two-day symposium.

*Sponsored by the Department of Linguistics & Germanic, Slavic, Asian, and
African Languages with the support of the Office of the Vice President for
Research and Graduate Studies, the Muslim Studies Program and the Center
for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies. *
Friday, April 1


*Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, Michigan State University*

*6pm - *Consul General of Germany, Mr. Herbert Quelle

Introduction by the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters, Christopher P.
Long

*The Consul General's speech will be followed by a reception in the Kellogg
Center.   *
Saturday, April 2


*All sessions: Wells Hall B122, MSU campus*

*8:30am* - Welcome

*9 - 10am* - Panel 1: Context and Framework

Prof. Brendan Mullan, Sociology: “Current Refugee Flows to Europe: Origins,
Transit, and Destinations.”

Prof. Norm Graham, CERES: "Is the Schengen Agreement Doomed? What is the
Way 'Forward' for the EU Common 'Market'?

Prof. Elly Jordan, Law: “Overview of U.S. Refugee & Asylum Law.“

*10:15 - 11:15am* - Panel 2: Media Attention and Controversies

Ms. Jenny Gohlke, PhD Candidate, German: Media Coverage in Germany

Prof. Timur Kocaoglu, Media Coverage in Turkey

Imam Sohail Chaudry, Greater Islamic Society of East Lansing

*12 - 1pm* - Keynote, Demetri Papademetriou, Migration Policy Institute
Europe

Dr. Papademetriou will be introduced by Dean Sherman Garnett, James Madison
College, MSU

*1:15 - 3:00pm* - Panels 3-4: NGOs and Mental Health Professionals Serving
Refugees

Lecturer - Ms. Sophia Koufopoulou, Sociology: MSU Students on the Isle of
Lesvos

Dr. Farha Abbasi, Psychiatry: Building an Integrative Model for Refugee
Resettlement

Mr. Steve Olweean, Common Bond Institute

Ms. Aya Samman, Karam Foundation

*3:00pm* - Film Showing: *Salam Neighbor*, documentary film (80 minutes)

*4:30 - 6pm* - Panel Discussion to follow the film screening with Producer,
Ms. Salam Darwaza

Erika Brown-Binion, Refugee Development Center

Mr. Shadi Martini, Senior Syria Advisor, Multifaith Alliance

Ms. Heba Osman, Medical Student, MSU


Photo credit: "Moria Camp, Lesvos, Greece" by Caron Creighton, B.A.
Professional Writing, B.A. Arabic and additional major in Journalism, 2013


Artemis Leontis
Professor of Modern Greek, Department of Classical Studies
University of Michigan
Arts & Humanities Editor, Journal of Modern Greek Studies

email:  aleontis at umich.edu
telephone: 734-615-3290
office address:  2160 Angell Hall, 435 S. State Street Ann Arbor MI 48109
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