Student activists turned out in large numbers this past weekend to engage in an array of activities involving issues ranging from gay and lesbian rights to relations with Israel for the University’s third annual Social Justice Conference.

Public Policy senior Joseph Varilone, the event’s principal organizer, said the purpose of the conference was to prove students have a voice in developing social policy by creating a program that emphasizes the freedom of expression and fosters discussion about current events related to social justice issues.

Coordinated by the Multiethnic Student Alliance, Growing Allies and the University’s Center for Ethics in Public Life, the event, which was held at the Dana Natural Resources Building, included an open mic night on Saturday and nine hours of panel discussions, film screenings and a guest appearance by author and environmental activist Derrick Jensen yesterday.

Saturday’s open mic night featured poetry and literature readings as well as music performances based on common themes of the evening. Topics covered during the event included the suicide of a gay student at Rutgers University in September, the issue of bullying on college campuses and the rights of gay and lesbian students.

The first panel discussion yesterday morning focused on divestment from Israel, particularly on college campuses. The panel included Varilone as the moderator, as well as Luis Sfeir-Younis, a University lecturer of sociology, Robbie Routenberg, program manager of the University’s Student Affairs Program, and Barbara Harvey, a board member of the Detroit chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace.

The panel members discussed the varying perspectives on managing the University’s relations with Israel, including total divestment and dissociation from the country, restriction of certain business initiatives with the nation or ignoring the issue altogether and continuing business relations with the country — the University’s current plan of action.

Many people in the audience spoke out during the discussion, voicing opinions on foreign affairs and the United States’s relations with Israel, as well as discussing how a change in the relationship could lead to changed policy at the University.

The conference culminated with a presentation and lecture from Jensen, who spoke to an audience of about 70 people about a variety of social justice issues. He began by describing his research on environmental affairs and the steps he feels people must take to formulate more environmentally conscious decisions and halt the growing climate problem.

During his speech, Jenson quoted a part of his book “Dreams” that highlights his theory that people develop their personal meaning of life, rather than science or religion defining it for them, and how this impacts their environmental decisions.

“Science is the way to view religion, and religion is the way to view science,” Jenson said.

Jensen concluded his speech by detailing his support of legalizing medical marijuana in his home state of California and highlighted the economically positive components of legalizing the drug in more states across the county.

LSA senior Gahl Liberzon said he came to the event to raise his voice and to learn more about social issues on campus.

“I consider myself someone committed to social justice and social change, so I try to come to events like these to try and get myself more informed, to educate myself,” Liberzon said. “I think that events like these are a good place to do that. A lot of people here are experts in their fields, experts in organizing, coming together, making a difference.”