PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

IUP campus responds to war with Iraq
by Kelsey Volkmann Friday, Mar. 21, 2003 at 11:43 PM

IUP students and members of Indiana Voices for Peace held a walk out and Convergence of Conscience Thursday to protest Bush's declaration of war.

IUP campus responds to war with Iraq
Kelsey Volkmann
Penn Editor in Chief
March 21, 2003

(photo: candlelight vigil in the Oak Grove)

The world waited to hear the news of the second Gulf War, and the IUP community was among those TV watchers anticipating President Bush's words.

"On my order, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war," Bush said in his address Wednesday night.

President Lawrence K. Pettit issued a campus-wide letter via e-mail, reassuring students of the future.

"With the onset of military action in Iraq, it is only natural that people feel anxious and concerned," Pettit wrote.

He continued by reminding students of the university's safety advisory Web site (http://www.iup.edu, click on safety advisory) for those interested in the locations of TVs broadcasting breaking news, how to contact counselors and other pertinent information.

Many students were seen watching the live news coverage in dining halls and HUB lounges. Among those keeping up-to-date with the news, was Tasbir Ashraf (senior, computer science).

Ashraf has accepted war as a natural cycle of humanity.

"To me, war is about human civilization," he said. "You can't avoid it. It's part of survival."

Despite Ashraf's support of war, he hopes it doesn't balloon into a war of greater scale.

"I don't want a world war, and hopefully, this one will be short," he said.

Rachel Mendoza (freshman, nursing) experienced different reactions to the news of war, particularly sympathy for Iraqi civilians.

"I'm scared," she said. "I feel bad for the innocent people getting bombed."

Her husband, Michel Mendoza (freshman, biology/pre-med), expressed his emotion of feeling fortunate.

"I feel lucky that it's not happening over here," he said.

The couple has already devised an emergency plan in case something was to happen locally.

"We formulated a plan with a series of places we could meet," Rachel said.

Political professor, Gwendolyn Torges, found troublesome qualities in the nature of this war.

"I'm worried about the doctrine of pre-emption," Torges said. "Several things are bothersome. First, what kind of precedence does it set? Secondly, what does it do for our international prestige?"

Although Torges feels Indiana is "overwhelmingly" safe, she also pointed out that pre-emptive actions increase the chances of homeland attacks.

"Launching pre-emptive strikes increases those risks," she said. "This is the kind of action that causes a 9/11. This seems to be begging for more of the same reaction."

(Photo: Students also gathered in the HUB's Allegheny Room for silent prayer and reflection. )

As a professor, Torges reminded students in the IUP community that this is the right place to be.

"Sometimes there is a tendency to feel a sense of hopelessness," she said. "But students belong to a community of learning" where they can help in the "breeding of tolerance."

"Keep going to class, engaging in dialogues and hearing other points of view," Torges said.

Students in the HUB atrium shared their strong anti-war sentiments.

Anyone could tell from looking at Miriam Krause (junior, early childhood education) Thursday that she is vehemently opposed to war. Donned in a white T-shirt with a Picasso reprint of "Peace Dove," and wearing a black armband, Krause explained her position.

"I don't think we have the legal base for attacking," she said. "I don't believe the media's and Bush's insistence that a war will liberate the Iraqi people."

Instead, Krause believes, loss of human life, both Iraquis' and military forces' will be the direct result. She also said how the finances funding the war could be used in "better ways."

"Saddam is an evil person but this isn't the way to go about it," she said. "The money being used for bombs and paying soldiers could be put into education, social security and healthcare."

Jessica Horner (junior, early education), also seated in the HUB lounge, called the war "tragic" and said U.N. inspectors should have been given more time.

"Fifty percent of the population of Iraq is under 15," Horner said. "That's tragic."

Other students expressed mixed reactions, including Amber Carpenter (freshman, communications), who said she was "torn."

"I feel kind of torn about it," Carpenter said. "The logical part of me thinks that something needs to be done. But the other part thinks that I don't want people to die."

Indiana Voices for Peace Website
http://voicesforpeace.cjb.net/

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www.thepenn.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/03/21/3e7b967a0d06b

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