New program to expose students to religion's connection with media

By: Nya Wilson

Posted: 9/13/06

Three professors wish to expose interested students-primarily graduate students-to religion and its relationship with everyday life, as well as its connection to the media and international relations.

The trio is introducing a new interdisciplinary academic program here at Syracuse University. "Religion, the Media and International Relations" will be conducted by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs' executive education program, in conjunction with the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Department of Religion in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The program's curriculum offers a hands-on approach to the study of the connection between religion, the media and international relations with workshops, case studies and a comprehensive Web site, which will allow the students to study the various ways religion influences our world today, said Mehrzad Boroujerdi, one of the program's coordinators.

The idea for such a program has been discussed for a long time and is now finally becoming a reality, Boroujerdi said.

"Media is merely the purveyor of global culture," Boroujerdi added.

The competition for a funding grant included Harvard University, Yale University, Tufts University and The University of California, San Diego. They were all seeking the $370,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation, which has a persistent theme for higher education, Boroujerdi said.

Boroujerdi expressed excitement about winning the grant, along with UC-San Diego. Money from the grant will go towards new course development, pilot testing of materials and faculty workshops.

"Religion, the Media, and International Relations" will be supervised by three professors. Collectively, the course will be led by Boroujerdi, the director of Syracuse University's Middle Eastern Studies Program, political science professor Tazim Kassam, the chairperson of the department of religion and Gustav Niebuhr, who possesses a joint appointment in the Newhouse School and the College of Arts and Sciences.

The three professors are not alone in their excitement.

"This is an extremely important area," said Dean David Rubin of Newhouse. "Religion is at the core of many disputes here (in the United States) and around the world."

Andy Johnstone, a sophomore magazine journalism and photojournalism major, said religion definitely plays a role in politics and the media.

"Take the issue of abortion, for instance, or even the criticism of President Bush being too set into his beliefs," Johnstone said.

The Islamic faith, and other religions stemming from the Middle Eastern region, has been in the limelight for some time now and this program will help students learn more, Boroujerdi said.