The Role and Activities of the Distinguished Savage Professor

Savage asked that "occupants of the visiting professorship be chosen on the basis of their contributions, through scholarship and/or diplomacy, to the great causes of humankind: world peace, international understanding, and the rule of law." He hoped that students would have the opportunity to know personally the distinguished visitors and would be able to engage them in important dialogue concerning fundamental issues of peace and international understanding. A retreat usually is held during the visit of each distinguished visitor to facilitate such informal and close interaction. Sav age was confident that "the students whose lives are touched by the occupants of the chair will be inspired to make their own contribution to the development of reasonableness as a substitute for violence and hate in personal, national, and international affairs."
Each Savage professor teaches two classes at the university: a large class serving primarily undergraduate students from throughout the campus and a more specialized smaller seminar serving primarily graduate students. The distinguished v isitor also gives a special public lecture and conducts one or more faculty colloquia.

The Interdisciplinary Nature of the Professorship

Savage was deeply aware that no single discipline can adequately address fundamental issues of peace, international organizations, human rights, and cross-cultural understanding. He was thus committed to endowing an interdisciplinary professorship that would encompass the entire university. Savage hoped that the professorship would help est ablish the University of Oregon as a major world center for the study of peace and international relations.
The Savage professorship is closely linked with key interdisciplinary programs and centers on campus, including:

Center for Asian and Pacific Studies
Center for the Study of Women in Society
Environmental Studies
Folklore and Ethnic Studies
International Studies
Latin American Studies
Oregon Humanities Center
Peace Studies
Planning, Public Policy, and Management
Russian and Eastern European Studies Center
Women's Studies

The professorship also strengthens the university's ties with important external groups such as the Oregon Peace Studies Consortium, the Oregon International Council, the Oregon World Affairs Council, the Oregon United Nations Association, and the World Trade Center.

Administration of the Professorship

A university committee, comprising faculty members and students from a wide array of disciplines, provides policy guidelines and selects the Savage professor. The Office of International Affairs provides administrative and logistical support.

The 2006-07 Carlton and Wilberta Ripley Savage Endowment
for International Relations and Peace Committee:
David Frank, Robert Donald Clark Honor's College (Chair)
Shaul Cohen, Geography
Jane Gordon, Law
Michael Moffitt, Law
Terri Gureno, International Programs
Cheyney Ryan, Philosophy
Chunsheng Zhang, Vice Provost for International Affairs and Outreach