Conflict Analysis & Dispute Resolution

CADR majors are equipped for careers in a wide variety of fields including, but not limited to, mediation in a variety of settings (i.e. education, private-sector, health-care, and within the legal system); organizational management; human-resource management; law enforcement and work with courts; both domestic and international NGOs; non-profit organizations; and governmental agencies.

Students also have found that CADR makes an excellent double major or minor to supplement their skills in other disciplines. We have found that CADR compliments the following areas of study as a double major: communication arts, early childhood education, elementary education, environmental studies, history, information systems, international studies, management, nursing, philosophy, political science, psychology, social work and sociology.

Ultimately, CADR students develop strong analytical and practical skills to better understand and respond to conflict dynamics at all levels of human interaction. Developing skills to better deal with conflict and to understand the dynamics involved will be useful no matter what profession you find yourself in.

The Conflict Resolution Club (CRC) began in fall 2001 and is the official student group for the conflict analysis and dispute resolution major. The CRC is open to any Salisbury University student regardless of major. The CRC has a number of academic and practical purposes:

• To educate students as to the benefits and importance of conflict analysis and dispute resolution, as well as exposing them to the various ideologies and practices within the field
• To raise funds for various conflict analysis and dispute resolution activities, events, and organizations
• To keep everyone informed of practicum, employment and career opportunities
• To raise campus awareness of the campus mediation center
• To promote conflict analysis and dispute resolution as a major

The CRC is involved in a variety of projects, including, but not limited to, the Wicomico Mentoring Project, running the Peer Mediation Program through the Campus Mediation Center, sponsoring guest lecturers in the “One Person Can Make A Difference” lecture series, and on campus related events such as Relay For Life, Homecoming and Multicultural Festival.

The CRC is dedicated to making an impact on the local community and service to others. Members participate in these activities and they are constantly finding new opportunities to serve others and help the community.

At the beginning of each semester times are agreed upon for club meetings. Meetings usually occur once every two weeks at the Bosserman Center. It is at the first meeting that many of the semester events are discussed and so early attendance and participation is essential for the success of the club’s mission.

The first club president stated, “we are a fairly new club and although we've gotten off to a good start, there is still plenty of room for improvement. If there is anything regarding the club that you feel we should improve or add, please send us your thoughts!” That is a lasting statement that has been upheld and it is up to the next set of student leaders to plan and conduct the programs the club undertakes in the same mindset.

Since 2001, the Center for Conflict Resolution has hosted the One Person Can Make a Difference Lecture Series. It provides the campus and Salisbury community with a unique opportunity to spend an evening with individuals who have walked off the pages of world history – past lecturers include Nobel Laureate and South African President Frederik Willem de Klerk and Nobel Laureate and former President of Poland Lech Walesa. Each person in the lecture series provides a first-person account of some of the most inspiring stories of our age, focuses our attention on the power of creative problem solving, non-violent action and power of the spoken word.

The department’s latest series welcomes global peacemakers to campus (click on the speaker’s name to see a summary of their remarks):

• Christopher Mitchell discussing “Mediation in the 21st Century”
• Norway’s Ambassador Kare R. Aas
• Oge Onubogo from the U.S. Institute of Peace
• Mark Umbreit discussing “Restorative Justice: A Social Movement in the Global Community with Increasing Impact”
• Cynthia Mazur, FEMA's Alternative Resolution Director
• Andi Gitow, UN Acting Deputy General of the United Nations Information Center