The coexistence dialogue continued yesterday when UA students and community members came together and discussed their personal stories - even after the exhibit has closed.
As a part of "UA Discusses Diversity," presenters used various media formats to analyze the importance of social justice and understanding throughout campus, Tucson and the world.
"I think it's critical that we re-evaluate our actions on a daily basis and look to ourselves to see if we're good and fair to everyone we meet," said Sofia Ramos, associate to the director of the Diversity Resource Office. "This helps explore the dialogue."
Liat Tal, a language, reading and culture graduate student, and Mohammed Naser, a teaching and teacher education doctoral student, used monologues, photographs and videos to illustrate their views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Tal and Naser talked about the culture of fear existing in the Middle East and the role the education system plays in continuing the violence.
"We're here to pose and raise questions rather than offering answers," Nasar said.
Students from Cholla High School presented their documentary, "Questions for Answers," which they made as a part of the Social Justice Education Program at Cholla.
The documentary looks at the disparities that exist between Cholla, a south side school with an 80 percent minority student population, and Catalina Foothills High School, the most expensive school building in the state. The program's students see the two schools as a microcosm of the situation that exists across Tucson.
"The theme of coexistence is important because there is the idea that there are inequalities in our everyday life," said Julio Cammarota, Ph.D., assistant professor of Mexican American studies and the director of the Social Justice Education Program. "If we don't address that we'll continue to be a stratified society."
Law professor Robert Williams and doctoral student Roberta Tayah-Yazzie also spoke about how coexistence has been an issue for American Indians for hundreds of years.
Williams and Tayah-Yazzie, a language, reading and culture doctoral student, discussed the historical and contemporary issues that face tribes who fight to maintain sovereignty in the United States.
A panel discussion followed the individual presentations and allowed audience members to participate and interact with the presenters.
Laura Amos, a Near Eastern studies graduate student, attended the presentation because she said coexistence is an important part of the research she's doing on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
"Cross-cultural understanding is very important to create a dialogue of peace around the world," Amos said. "We need to cease seeing people as 'the other.'"
Even though the "Coexistence: The Art of Living Together" exhibit left campus earlier this week, presenters agreed the discussion must continue if change is ever to occur.
"You should celebrate and aspire to be good at coexisting every day of your life," Ramos said.