Activist Spotlight: Caitlin Boley

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Our Activist Spotlight for January is one of our very own student staffers on the NYC campus, Caitlin Boley! Caitlin works as the Student Outreach and New Media Projects Coordinator, helping to plan events and social media campaigns to educate students on current issues and engage them in debate, but she is also very involved in activism as a student and citizen as well. Read on to learn more about what inspires her to be civically engaged and what cause she wants all Pace students to know about.

Majors: Political Science, Philosophy & Religious Studies, BA 2016
Minors: Pre-Law, Peace & Justice Studies
Current Job: Student Outreach and New Media Projects Coordinator at CCARNYC
Potential Career Aspirations: JD in International Law, Academia, NGO Member

How did you first get involved with service and activism?
Given that I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, I have always been aware of and bothered by racial tensions, poverty, injustice, and my own privilege. This motivated me to get involved in my community in a number of ways, the most notable of these being Memphis Work Camp (a wonderful program that gathers adolescents and youth groups for a week or two each summer to perform various beautification projects in Orange Mound) and Youth and Government (a program within my high school that encouraged students to become familiar with the political process and engage in simulations of the political process).

Regarding becoming involved at Pace, I was able to do so through the many resources Pace provides. Offices such as the CCAR offer a multitude of opportunities to become civically engaged, while student groups such as the Student Peace Alliance vehemently encourage students to become activists.

What activities have you been involved in during your time as a student at Pace?
I have been involved in a number of activities, but I would say that my potential favorites thus far have been the Model United Nations Program and the Student Peace Alliance. Model UN has been so constructive for me personally, as it demonstrated to me the true value of diplomacy as well as the challenges that it presents. The Student Peace Alliance has been such a welcoming community. Though small in numbers, the students have been quite active and I foresee them becoming a remarkable organization. In terms of off-campus life, I like to visit museums, see Broadway shows, and read books (fiction and non). I recently became a member of the Nietzsche reading circle hosted by Dr. Tuncel, which I would encourage any serious philosophy student to join.

What is an issue that you wish more students knew about?
I would say from the students I have interacted with, we have an adequate (and growing!) activist community at Pace, who are determined to tackle racial, economic, and gendered social issues. However, one thing I wish more students would critically analyze is the entirely detrimental effects that result from violence, which is highly normalized in our modern culture. This is ubiquitously evident, from our modern media to our nation’s current military actions. In an attempt to educate students about conflict and its consequences, the CCAR (me included) has chosen conflict as our theme for the month of March. I hope this will inspire Pace students and encourage a larger pacifistic population to develop at Pace. At least, I anticipate that this chosen theme will cause some students to think twice about the long-term effects and human cost related to conflict.

What motivates you to be civically engaged?
Basic human sympathy, respect for the rights of others, and sometimes even boredom.

Why do you think it’s important for students to get involved in service and activism while at Pace?
The reasons for service and activism are plentiful. I think in every avenue of one’s life, it is beneficial to be proactive. In no area is this more evident than one’s own community, which one affects and is affected by on a daily basis. We should all be motivated to improve the quality of living of others; if we can’t even make that effort for our very own neighbors, who we see on a daily basis, then I don’t think we’re spending our time properly.

Anything else you want to add?
I love being a part of the Pace community and am so inspired by our students and faculty. I think this school and its students truly possess unhindered potential and I cannot wait to see what we accomplish this upcoming Spring.