As the United States continues to march toward a controversial war with Iraq, students and faculty continue to question what impact such a conflict could have on the University community. The University Faculty Senate and ASUO will host a forum to discuss the war from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today in the EMU Ballroom.
The public forum, titled “The University and the Iraq Crisis,” will feature panelists from University departments who will analyze and interpret the possibility of war with Iraq from different perspectives. The event will also help inform University faculty, who will convene in the University Assembly to discuss the University’s unofficial response to the potential war.
Senate President Greg McLauchlan, a sociology professor and a panelist, said the forum stands apart from other campus activities that have focused war because of its inclusion of University President Dave Frohnmayer, who will address “The Role of Universities in Times of National and International Crisis.”
Other featured forum speakers have conflicting opinions regarding the University’s response to a war with Iraq. Geography Professor Alec Murphy, who will speak about “Putting the Iraq Crisis in Geopolitical Perspective,” said he has doubts as to whether the University should have a collective stance on the issue. Murphy said he thinks it is appropriate for faculty to voice their opinions as citizens, but going beyond that would be harmful to a healthy marketplace of ideas.
“I think a university should be a place where different ideas can be presented and discussed, and I do not think the University should take a position that would work against that mission,” Murphy said.
Daniel Pope, a history professor who will be speaking about “Historical Perspectives on Student Peace Activism,” argued that the University needs to take a stance on the issue because the impending war will have sweeping effects on the community. However, Pope said taking a collective stance should not limit debate and discussion on the war.
“Certainly there are colleagues and students who feel differently and support the Bush administration’s policies,” he said. “Nobody is for a minute suggesting that passing a resolution means there is no disagreement on campus or that their civil liberties and intellectual freedom would be threatened.”
Organizers are expecting a large turnout, and there will be overflow seating in 180 PLC with a live video feed from the Ballroom. McLauchlan said although it is hard to guess exactly how many people will attend, seating for more than a thousand people will be available.