The American legal system is based on equality before the law—but does legal equality mean identical treatment? Duane Ruth-Heffelbower, J.D., M.Div., associate professor of peacemaking and conflict studies at Fresno Pacific University and director of the Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies, has an alternate view that is being successful in the Valley and beyond.

Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke of the future with hope. Despite the difficulties and dangers faced by him and others working for human equality, King kept faith—in God, people and the possibility of a better world. Ken Martens Friesen, associate professor of history and political science at Fresno Pacific University, examines how we’re doing 44 years later and sees hope as well in this Scholars Speak.

It has been 51 years since the Democratic Republic of the Congo received its independence from Belgium—more than five decades since the people received their alienated right of freedom—and the country will have its second democratic election November 28.

It’s happened to all of us: we’re at the mall, enjoying the air conditioning and shopping for summer clothes when we stumble across a holiday display, complete with plastic snow and Christmas trees. We shake our heads, complain about the commercialization of Christmas and walk off, knowing we’ll be back, credit card in hand…soon. — Ed.

Shrinking government budgets have put college and university financial aid under the political microscope. While there is general agreement that the system needs fixing, one segment of higher education has been either misunderstood or ignored: the independent non-profit. Hear more from D. Merrill Ewert, President of Fresno Pacific University, in this edition of Scholars Speak.

School is an experience with society that shapes the rest of a child’s life. Peter Kopriva, professor in special education and early childhood development, looks at ways to help children adjust that pay off beyond the classroom.

Events in Egypt are beyond the speed of instant communication. History/political science professor Ken Martens Friesen looks to Berlin and China in 1989 and Iran in 1979 to see which way Egypt could go in 2011.

Doug Kulungu (BA ’10) is concerned about his homeland. The Congo has been in the grip of civil war for more than 15 years. Not just soldiers suffer in this war; women are victimized by rape as a weapon of terror.Doug brings this horror to life in this edition of Scholars Speak.

The Bible—both Old and New testaments—have strong words on divorce. But can divorce, painful as it is, be the best, most Christian, of a set of bad options? Quentin Kinnision, Ph.D., Christian ministries faculty, answers a thoughtful Yes in this edition of Scholars Speak.

A pastor preaches book burning and catches worldwide attention, not only for himself but for the faith he claims to espouse. Christianity has been here before, seen as a violent hate-filled religion because of the actions of a few, not those of the many. Who are Christians, really? That's the question Tim Neufeld takes on in this edition of Scholars Speak.

Employers know what kind of workers they want. They’re after people who can think critically, solve problems, communicate and collaborate. Employees and entrepreneurs in the 21st century must also be flexible, adaptive, innovative, creative, understand technological and environmental issues and be able to deal with people from a variety of nations and cultures.

Sound like a tall order? In this Scholars Speak Jo Ellen Priest Misakian tells how to make that happen. Want a clue? Well, Misakian directs the school library program at Fresno Pacific University.

The first marathon runner died at the end of his race; still people by the thousands participate every year in what is perhaps the ultimate test of athletic endurance. Going this distance is also a source of remembered wisdom, or so says Michael Kunz, Fresno Pacific University AIMS professor of science, in this edition of Scholars Speak. 

Between the Taliban and troop surges, Afghanistan grabs the headlines--but Pakistan may be the real issue in the region. Such is the case Ken Martens Friesen, Fresno Pacific University history and political science professor, makes in this edition of Scholars Speak.

Guns--cause of crime or means for the innocent to protect themselves? It's one of those questions most voted likely to turn a pleasant discussion into a shouting match, but one that Duane Ruth-Heffelbower takes on in this Scholars Speak.

The holiday's here...ba DA ba dum..and I'm feelin' blue...ba DA ba dum...

Wish someone would tell me...ba DA be dum...jus' what I should do...be DA bad um...

How often do our holiday songs take on a blue hue as frustration and impatience shout down love and joy? Fresno Pacific University Psychology Professor Jay Pope has heard this tune and has some ideas on how to get your life back into a major key. He tells you how to make this busy time of year rock in this Scholars Speak.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. In this Scholars Speak, Biblical and Religious Studies Professor Quentin Kinnison issues a call to end this horror, and a challenge to Christians to lead the charge.

Life happens. And it seems like there's always more life happening, not less. So as we juggle all we must do and try to steal a minute for what we want to do, how do we decide when to say No? Is that little word even a part of our vocabulary, or is quality of life synonymous with quantity of life? Wayne Steffen, staff member at Fresno Pacific University and as much a time-management expert as parenthood, employment and the desire to be a contributing citizen can make him, vents on this topic in this Scholars Speak.

Child abuse is a horror. But what happens when it is also a symptom of other abuse that can tear apart a country? That's what Fresno Pacific University student Doug Kulungu fears is happening in his native Congo. He addresses the issue and its implications in this Scholars Speak.

"The Lord is my shepherd" is a familiar phrase to millions. Most of us hear it at funerals, intoned to provide individual comfort in the face of death. But can it be more? Can these five words and the Psalm that follow offer guidance in everyday life and economic crisis? Tim Neufeld, biblical and religious studies professor at Fresno Pacific University, thinks so, and outlines his ideas in this Scholars Speak.

As always, some are happy with the outcome of this presidential election, some are not and many are standing pat. Any way you look at it, however, 2009 was one for the history books. Candidates avoided the race card during the campaign, but the question remains: Where do we go from here regarding relations between whites and black--and the rest of the racial rainbow--with the election of a black president? Are we there yet? Quentin Kinnison has some thoughts on the opportunities and challenges we Americans face at this moment, and he outlines them this week in Scholars Speak.