An
Educated Opposition
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By Brandy Ellis '02
Activism around a possible war with Iraq has taken many forms at Antioch
College. These have included but not been limited to a 28-page zine, Voices
of Dissent; an Anti-war poetry reading in the Antioch Inn; the passage
of a resolution opposing a U.S. war on Iraq by community referendum; and
a day of workshops and other activities on the subject.
The zine was produced by a journalism course, Interview as Source and Resource. It detailed student experience with peace activism, as they interviewed activists in Cincinnati, held forums, and researched issues. Don Wallis, former editor of the Yellow Springs News and course professor and adjunct faculty member, commented, "The high quality of student work reflects the meaningful connections they made with many people who are seeking peace during the present crisis in American democracy." Several students from Wallis' class later formed the Peace Action Group, which has organized many community engaging activities.
In February, Al Denman, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy of Law and Religion,
organized a dinner and discussion titled "Should We Attack Iraq?
Should Antioch and Yellow Springs Village Take a Stand?" at the Presbyterian
Church in Yellow Springs. The forum drew approximately 160 participants,
with four of the seven initiators for the discussion drawn from the College.
Kya Kim ’04, third-year student; Hazel Latson, Acting Director of
Multicultural Affairs; Maruice Meilleur, Visiting Assistant Professor
of Political Science; and Pat Mische, Lloyd Professor of Peace Studies
and World Law presented different views on the topics posed in the forum's
title.
On February 18th, the Administrative Council (AdCil) unanimously voted
to oppose a preemptive strike by the United States on Iraq. Later that
day Jill Yager, Professor of Environmental and Biological Sciences, brought
a similar resolution to the faculty. Yager's resolution passed once amended
to read "We, the faculty of Antioch College support peaceful discourse
and oppose a preemptive strike on Iraq by the United States of America."
The next day, Community Day, a special Community Council (ComCil) met
to approve a community-wide referendum on a resolution opposing the war
on Iraq. The ComCil meeting, attended by over 40 students, faculty and
staff, authorized the referendum.
With just over half the on-campus community voting in a span of three hours, the referendum, first proposed to ComCil February 6th, passed by a margin of 308 votes for, sixteen against, and four undecided. The resolution describes itself as "a plea for international diplomacy and due process over unwarranted bloodshed and the fervent rush to war with Iraq." It encourages further debate within the campus and the country.
Philosophy major Kelly Connolly ’03, one of six students who initially
drafted the resolution said, "Antioch's resolution can only add to
the growing strength of the anti-war movement. I think it is one of many
non-violent positive actions that is appropriate for members of the College
to make together." Another of the original writers, Political Science
major Mike Hogan ’03 commented, "The idea of a pre-emptive
strike on Iraq, without either rational evidence that it would be necessary
or a comprehensive plan for what to do after it ends, is beyond poor foreign
policy, it's absurd."
During the weekend of February 22-23, seven Antioch students attended
the first national Campus Antiwar Network conference in Chicago, where
student Kya Kim was elected coordinator for the Midwest, and student Jessica
Smith was elected coordinator for Ohio. According to Kim, "I'm hoping
that this will enable Antioch students to be progressive leaders in the
contemporary student peace movement, depending on the motivation, organization
and communication on this campus and with others across the nation."
A day of workshops on March 14th boasted titles that included "War
and Its Effect on Children," "Civil Disobedience as a Response
to War Preparation: the Consequences of Going to Prison for One's Convictions,"
"Conscientious Objection: Are You Ready for a Draft?" and "Intellectual
Freedom in a Time of Crisis." Yager's Environmental Science class
also presented a workshop about the environmental and ecological consequences
of war.
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