Sun Youth Forum

Leaders of tomorrow: Wednesday, November 23, 2005; sun youth forum: Forum’s topics range from the war in Iraq to gay marriages; By Ed Koch; Regardless of why the United States decided to fight the war in Iraq, it would be a mistake to pull American troops out too soon, local high school students said Tuesday when they gathered for the 50th anniversary of the Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum. About 1,000 of Southern Nevada’s best and brightest young minds — juniors and seniors from 47 public and private schools — discussed a number of thorny issues at the forum at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Reflections on 50 years: Tuesday, November 22, 2005; By Brian Greenspun; On the anniversary of its 50th year, the Sun Youth Forum will welcome 1,000 students from 41 schools to the Las Vegas Convention Center so that they may share their thoughts and insights on numerous relevant topics with Southern Nevada’s civic and political leaders.

Students delve into war issue: Wednesday, November 24, 2004; Sun Youth Forum:; By Ed Koch; Students who have brothers and fathers fighting in the war in Iraq told fellow students at Tuesday’s 49th annual Sun Youth Forum that their soldier relatives tell them that we are making progress and not to abandon the cause. “We should be there because what we are doing is working,” said Shereene Fogenay, a junior at Chaparral. Her father, Kenneth, is in the Army and serving in Fajullah in Iraq.

Students don’t shy away from the hot issues: Wednesday, November 26, 2003; Sun Youth Forum:; By Heather Rawlyk; High school students tackled some of the hottest national and local topics during the Tuesday morning sessions of the Sun Youth Forum. Topics ranging from same-sex marriages to the legalization of prostitution sparked heated discussions among the teens, who fought to have their voices heard. The students couldn’t seem to agree on how to go about ensuring human rights without stepping on some toes.

Students discuss image of America around the world: Wednesday, November 27, 2002; Sun Youth Forum: Students discuss image of America around the world; By Ed Koch; While discussing the United States’ vast influence, young Southern Nevadans had to confront whether America’s ideals are best for the world and if Americans are too arrogant for other nations to trust our sincerity and goodwill. “Some of the students here are really open-minded, but others believe America is the best country — and maybe it is — and that its values are the best for all people,” said Jalmar Pfeifer, a foreign exchange student from the Netherlands who attends Chaparral High.

Students sensitive to U.S. image abroad: Wednesday, November 21, 2001; Sun Youth Forum: Forum participants say America seen as arrogant; Daniela Mohor; Students at the Sun Youth Forum were not so blinded by the glow of patriotism in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States that they didn’t understand why some people, groups and even nations hate Americans and the U.S. government. While no one justified the attacks on civilian targets like the World Trade Center, many Clark County students were not afraid to use words like “pompous,” “greedy” “arrogant” and “imposing” to describe how much of the world — including U.S. allies — views the United States.

Students criticize ‘contaminated’ election: Wednesday, November 22, 2000; Sun Youth Forum: 880 teens participate in 45th annual discussion; By Ed Koch; The presidential election process this year was contaminated, gays should be allowed to marry in Nevada and abortion is just too divisive an issue. That’s what some of Southern Nevada’s best and brightest teens had to say Tuesday at the 45th annual Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

School violence weighs heavily on students: Wednesday, November 24, 1999; Sun Youth Forum: 850 gather at Sun Youth Forum; Shaunta Grimes; Her first three years of high school, Dionna Simpson waited in line every morning to come on campus through a metal detector.

Forum shows disgruntled students want to 'make example' of Clinton: Wednesday, November 25, 1998; Sun Youth Forum:; By Ed Koch; And a clear majority of juniors and seniors participating in the Sun Youth Forum on Tuesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center said that's exactly what Clinton did.

Kids debate hot topics: Wednesday, November 27, 1996; Sun Youth Forum:; Teresa Hinds; 850 high school students gather at SUN Youth Forum

Sun gives teens forum to speak out on issues: Wednesday, November 22, 1995; Sun Youth Forum:; Debra Bass; Impassioned debate on foreign affairs, personal accounts of teen pregnancy, insightful revelations about affirmative action and tempered reactions to child abuse set the tone for the 40th annual SUN Youth Forum.

A fountain of youth ideas: Wednesday, November 23, 1994; Sun Youth Forum:; “It seems like minorities have a lot more opportunities,” said Nicole Omer of Moapa Valley High School. “Racism is turned around. If you are a white male, you are trashed.”

Students tackle tough issues: Wednesday, November 24, 1993; Sun Youth Forum:; Erik Pappa; The mass media took a lot of shots. Some students related stories of friends who were involved in car accidents and who became the subjects of nightly newscasts.

Sun Youth Forum a teen think tank: Wednesday, November 25, 1992; Sun Youth Forum:; Erik Pappa; On a show of hands, more than half the room favored the right of a woman to choose an abortion. On another question, nearly all students said it was OK to ask a boyfriend or girlfriend to take an AIDS test. Four of the 51 students in the room admitted already having children.

LV teens tackle social problems: Monday, November 25, 1991; Sun Youth Forum:; Adrian A. Havas; Teenagers in Southern Nevada grow up fast in an atmosphere - some say battleground - where violence, declining education standards and difficult sexual choices abound.