Some decisions are easier to make than others. University President Dave Frohnmayer’s decision to wear a patriotic-colored shirt and tie to the University Assembly’s meeting discussing the “impending threat of military action in Iraq” was probably an easy one. Whether the University should take a formal stance in opposition to a war in Iraq will not be so simple a decision.
Members of the University Assembly gathered with University students and community members in 180 PLC on Friday afternoon to engage in a non-binding discussion about the University’s stance on the Bush administration’s proposed war in Iraq.
University Senate President Greg McLauchlan began the discussion by reminding the audience that the senate had declined to make a formal resolution opposing the war in December. He then asked the audience of about 200 people for their input on the how the University should respond to the proposed war in Iraq.
“I and the other members of the senate Executive Committee will listen carefully today, and some others will comment personally as well, but I am going to be taking notes and listening for ideas that any of you might have for how the University community can perform its mission in the coming weeks to educate, to provide a forum for debate and to play a constructive role in our community in responding to the international crisis,” McLauchlan said. “I would like to urge many of you to think about ways in which you would like to see this institution and its different parts respond.”
Audience members displayed high emotion as they discussed the obligations of the University. One woman brought a sign showing a dove flying over the earth, many had prepared statements, a few wept as they discussed their fears and hopes for the future and what a war would do to those dreams.
“My heart longs to use my education to promote the conservation of life,” biology post baccalaureate Andrew Long said. “I feel that it is of paramount importance for the faculty of this school to support the students that they teach and to stand behind them to promote a higher level of intellectualism — a level that promotes the conservation of life through the promotion of peace.”
A majority of the speakers said they were in favor of the University formally opposing the war. However, a few individuals spoke against the University passing a formal resolution against the war.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate that an institution that is supported by tax dollars should be taking a stance that is against the (Bush) administration,” Gregory McNeill, a senior in political science said. “I just don’t think that it’s right for a public university to take a stand against something that’s political.”
University officials closed the meeting by reminding the audience that “this is the beginning of a discussion, not the end of a discussion.”
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