Just north of the NEIU Physical Education Complex stands a tree with a scar on its north side, where a lightning bolt once struck. Below the branches of this tree is where peace fires have been lit on the Northeastern Illinois campus for the last 14 years. It is a place where people gather to reflect and share about their lives in the company of an accepting community.

Dan Creely, Jr., professor, health, physical education, recreation, and athletics, has played an instrumental role in the lighting of the peace fires on campus. Creely believes that Northeastern Illinois is a special place to be able to teach the value of peace.

He said, "Our students are a microcosm of the world. It is no mistake we have the most ethnically diverse student body in the Midwest and this ancient peace fire is located on our campus. The fire brings us all together in one circle as one group of people."

Fifteen years ago, Creely and members of the Teachers of Experiential and Adventure Methodology (T.E.A.M.) committee were invited to organize and be the host of the 1995 Association for Experiential Education (AEE) in Lake Geneva, Wis. As a result, a peace fire from the Three Fires Society of the Potawatomi, Ojibwa and Odawa was lit and burned for the four days of that AEE conference. According to Creely, it is believed that this was the first time this sacred fire was lit and shared outside the Native American community.

Bruce Hardwick and Duane Kinnart, fire keepers in the Native American community, were invited to light a peace fire two months later at the 1996 T.E.A.M. conference held on the Northeastern Illinois campus, where it has been located ever since. Fire coals have been shared by Creely and carried around the world and given to world leaders such as the Dalai Lama, and used in special ceremonies.

Over the years many peace and spiritual leaders visiting campus have participated in the NEIU peace fire ceremonies, including Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohatma Gandhi, primatologist Jane Goodall, Irish spiritual leader Margaret Connolly, spiritual leaders Ravi Shankar and Ajit Telang from India, and a group of Tibetan monks from the Drepung Monastery. Native elders and tribal leaders from many nations have visited in the last 14 years and have participated in the peace fires.

Other peace initiatives on campus include two upcoming events: a "Water and Fire" conference on October 6 and 7, 2008, and a World and Peace Summit titled "Ripples of Fire" on September 9, 2009. For more information about these events and peace fire circles, please visit www.neiu.edu/~team or contact Creely at d-creely@neiu.edu or (773) 442-5564.