War discussion continues

Since March 2002 U.S. Armed Forces have remained tethered to Iraq where tenacious insurgent groups seek to undermine the formation of a stable democratic government. During the five semesters the nation has been at war, life in Storrs has continued without any significant interruptions.

"You may say 'Well, we're being ignored.' Yes and no. It's in their minds," said Professor Robert Luyster during a speech at Tent City last Wednesday. "Those guys playing Frisbee over there, they see us here. They know what this is about. The people walking past, the cars driving by, they know what this is about. It's a seed in the back of their minds."

Luyster, a philosophy professor who witnessed collegiate activists turn UConn "pell mell" during the Vietnam War, commended students gathered at Tent City for partaking in "direct action" to get their message heard. The sentiments within Luyster's diatribe expounded upon many of the ideas declared in the mission statement of the unofficial student group Strike One that appeared in The Daily Campus at the beginning of the protest, a pronouncement of dissent concerning American foreign policy.

Not everyone agrees with the political demonstration on the East Campus lawn.

"In general, I think it is ironic that the people in this country who are so vocal about peace are so quick to blame the United States government when there are so many oppressive regimes around the world that are so obviously and fundamentally detrimental to the peace process" said Emily Salisbury, a 7th-semester music and communication processes major, and acting chairperson of the UConn College Republicans.

In a letter to the editor published in April 2003, Salisbury said anyone who claims to support the troops while campaigning against the war is guilty of contradicting themselves. The phrase she is referring to, "We support the Troops, bring them home," is currently displayed on a large banner in front of the Strike One encampment.

"It cannot be said that one supports the troops if one harps against their mission," Salisbury said. "There is a difference between supporting our troops and simply not wanting them to die. American soldiers are in Iraq because they have made the choice to defend principles that have been instilled by the founding fathers and by those who fought in the American Revolution."

The virulent behavior political attitudes can sometimes exude in people becomes most evident as afternoon traffic clogs Route 195. Aside from drivers that stare at the tents with tacit curiosity, others show support by honking their horn or waving the peace sign; just as common however are booming epithets accompanied by the middle finger. Much of the criticism delivered in the form of drive-by denouncements accuses the demonstrators of being unpatriotic.

"We are concerned about the perceived lack of respect that some in their group show toward American soldiers," said Heath W. Fahle, press spokesperson for the UConn College Republicans. "The men and women that have served and are serving in the military are worthy of respect. While some have been careful to note their appreciation of the troops, many of the tent dwellers are too casual with their regard to the troops."

Sahar Benijamali, a 6th-semester political science major and 17 day resident of Tent City, said her personal reasons for joining the protest stem from her belief in speaking out against what she perceives as an unjust war.

"Just because we can't directly change things doesn't mean that you shouldn't recognize the wrong that's being done. A lot of criticism we get is like 'well, that doesn't change anything. People might be thinking about it, but that doesn't change what's happening," Sahar said. "But people should know and say that this is wrong... You shouldn't say I can't change it, it's already been done; now I'm not going to think about it."

Despite the negative feedback directed at the group, Sahar said this year's demonstration has been a success.

"I think protesting and having activities and events to share these views does make a big dent," she said. "Whether people are against it or for it, they're vocalizing it. They're thinking about it more regularly. So many people have come by to support us or question us and argue with us. Just that debate, engaging people and having people thinking about the issues is very important it's quite an accomplishment to have that consciousness and raise awareness."

Tuesday night, in an attempt to raise awareness of conservative values and encourage political debate, the College Republicans hosted a former WWF wrestler-turned conservative speaker at the Dodd Center. "We had a bunch of options and they just overwhelmingly wanted him to come," Salisbury said. "He believes in conservative values so he decided to start speaking. He likes mentoring people and planting seeds of intellectualism, trying to get people to think about current events and what's going on."

Prior to the speech, students affiliated with Tent City distributed photocopied excerpts from archived web sites of the Ultimate Warrior portraying the speaker in an unflattering light.

"We were shocked why the College Republicans would choose a former WWF guy with no real political background or intellectual background or anything, come represent them," said Sohrob Kazerounian, a 10th-semester computer science and cognitive science and engineering major, as he handed out flyers at the entrance to the Dodd center. "Especially when he's almost psychotically racist, anti-liberal-communist-Marxist-queer-everything, he's got the whole bag."

After Salisbury showed the material to The Warrior he told her most of it was taken out of context and some of it completely fabricated. "Ignorance, stupidity and dependence, are qualifiers for being a modern day liberal," Warrior said.

The university will also hold a discussion Friday morning entitled "By the People: Americans' Role in the World" at the Student Union.

According to Matt Farley, coordinator for Community Outreach, Friday morning's event is intended to encourage citizens to engage in democracy through deliberative dialogue. The discussion will include a panel of 30 students and faculty who will examine military action, democracy, human rights issues and how America can play a positive role in the development of a global society.

Capt. Jason Oberton, assistant professor of military science and recruiting operations officer for the ROTC on campus, acknowledged everyone is entitled to their opinion, a right provided and protected by the United States Military.

"I have no issues with what [the protestors at Tent City] do. We're the ones that in the past have allowed them the right to do that protest, if that's the way they feel, I have no issues with that," Oberton said.

Oberton said the major media networks do not succeed at providing Americans with a complete impression of American presence in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"They portray a portion of what happens over in Iraq, but there are a lot of things that the public doesn't see," Oberton said. "There's a lot of support for the U.S. government and the United States Armed Forces from the Iraqi citizens. I've seen great things happen there, they do portray one side of what's going on over there, [but] they don't show all the good things that are going on, which is unfortunate."

While serving in Afghanistan, Oberton was present at the opening of the first women's hospital, the commemoration of the first women's school and the first women drivers. Oberton said he also saw similar situations like those in Iraq.

The ROTC program at UConn has about 50 contracted members and another 50 participants who Oberton said are likely to contract eventually. In addition to financial aid, students involved in ROTC receive a commission in the army reserve, National Guard or the active duty army upon graduation from college.

"I've heard a lot from different people as I walked across campus, different people saying thank you to me because they may have known I was over there and I truly appreciate that on a soldier's side," Oberton said. "What I'd like to see is that people can have their opinions about different things, but as long as they support the soldiers, that's the most important part."