Peace Pole monument created by nursing student, Navpreet Kaur.
San José State University (SJSU) nursing student, Navpreet Kaur, unveiled a Peace Pole on campus between Clark Hall and Tower Hall during the first week of Legacy Month on October 12, 2015. This is only one of three that have been placed on a California State University campus.
The Peace Pole has “May Peace Prevail On Earth” written in 12 different languages – English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Japanese, Hindi, French, Portuguese, Tagalog, and Persian. Kaur wanted to reflect the top twelve languages spoken in the Santa Clara County.
Navpreet Kaur (left), Dr. Kathy Abriam-Yago, Director of the School of Nursing (middle), and LooLoo Amante, 2015-16 Associated Students President (right), unveiling the Peace Pole.
“It has all these languages on a single platform that have their individual identity, background, or a story. Yet, what brings them together is the fact that they have the same meaning,” said Kaur.
Kaur proposed the idea to place the Peace Pole on SJSU’s campus to promote inclusiveness on campus. With the help of Associated Students to fund the project and support from The Valley Foundation School of Nursing, the monument came to life. Kaur was inspired by San José City College’s Peace Pole and said she wanted to represent the diversity of SJSU.
“I really wanted to do something for our community that would help our (SJSU) students feel more connected to one another on a deeper level.”
Navpreet Kaur takes photograph with Nursing faculty members.
The SJSU community now has a place that can demonstrate the effort towards being more accepting of others no matter the differences. “The Peace Pole is a very small step of many to come in promoting inclusiveness,” said Kaur while explaining how everyone has what it takes to make a positive difference on campus.
The Peace Pole will carry Kaur’s legacy into the future of SJSU. It will serve as a reminder to the SJSU community to stand united in peace, social justice and diversity.
The Valley Foundation School of Nursing faculty and students with the Peace Pole .