University Students Help Behind the Scenes at International Law and Religion Symposium
Brigham Young University students from Provo, Utah, and Laie, Hawaii, helped delegates at the 32nd annual International Centre for Law and Religion (ICLR) Symposium at BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School in late 2025.
The symposium brings together government, academic, and religious leaders from around the world to discuss religious liberty principles.
But it’s not just the delegates who make the symposium a success; it’s also the students putting in the effort behind the scenes.
BYU–Hawaii student fellows from the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative came to make the symposium impactful and memorable for students and delegates alike.
To visually set themselves apart from BYU–Provo students, BYU–H students wore kukui leis. These leis are symbols of knowledge and growth, something the students hope to achieve while at the event. In Hawaii, kukui nuts were burned as candles, providing a source of light in dark times, another significant symbol of the kukui lei.
According to many delegates, the student volunteers are a symposium highlight. They serve as delegates’ main point of contact, answering questions, guiding them, and supporting the event. Over the years, many delegates have thanked students for their kindness and light.
“That’s what we’re trying to be, the light of Christ,” said Kala Haverly, a student fellow from Hawaii.
BYU law student, Elle McConkie, served as the master scheduler for the symposium. She said that while spreading the Light of Christ was not explicitly a focus during the event planning and preparation, it came naturally while working at the symposium.
“I think that through our interactions with the delegates—when we assisted them, answered their questions, engaged in conversations, and facilitated a positive experience for them—we helped to spread Christ’s love and light,” McConkie said.
At the end of the conference, BYU–H students gave kukui lei to delegates they had connected with, inviting them to attend the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative on their own campus in April, where the focus is on a specific religion.
Riji Levaci from Fiji leads the BYU–H initiative. He said creating lasting relationships is a key focus. Last year, the BYU–H symposium focused on the Pacific region, with over 100 student volunteers from Pacific nations participating.
“Not only is it building their relationships with other delegates, it’s motivating them to move in this direction, being a lawyer or being involved in religious freedom and human dignity,” Levaci said.
The Pacific area also contributed significantly to the ICLR symposium, building relationships with students and other delegates while sharing their perspectives.
McConkie felt the Pacific voices were essential. “It’s important to have voices from the Pacific at the table where these important issues are discussed.”
During such a polarised time, McConkie felt that the most meaningful part of the symposium for herself, and others, was developing relationships. “The conference was a breath of fresh air because there was no ‘us vs. them.’ The human connection at the symposium was stunning,” McConkie said.
People from different backgrounds, viewpoints, and life experiences come together and all add value to the discussion. People work to understand perspectives that may not be widely represented and share their views to foster greater understanding and respect.
“We want everyone to know that no matter their religion or beliefs, they all are important and have great worth and light,” said Neelima Mungamur, a student fellow from India.