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| Students rally, take
stand for peace |
Adam Bennett
Editor-in Chief
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Adam Bennett | The AppalachianRally leader and applied physics
master’s candidate Matthew P. Lawson (holding flag) opened
the rally for peace in front of the Centennial statue on Sanford
Mall March 5. Students, faculty and staff gathered as part of
the national moratorium to stop the war.
Adam Bennett | The AppalachianThe 100-person march wound around
campus proclaiming messages of peace to students and others
who did not meet earlier on Sanford Mall.
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Carrying signs that
read “Peace Now,” “Thou shall not kill” and
“No war in Iraq,” over 150 students gathered on Sanford
Mall March 5 to protest a possible war in Iraq.
The event, sponsored by High Country Students for Peace and Justice
(HCSPJ), was scheduled as part of the national moratorium to stop
the war.
Students from colleges, universities and high schools across the
nation left classes and other activities to show support for peace.
“Campuses all over are participating. This is a national call
to action,” senior psychology major and event co-coordinator
Leanne M. Gergen said.
“We just think it’s important to stop life as we know
it because that’s what we are going to do to Iraq,” Gergen
said.
The hour-long rally drew people from all ages and walks of life,
both pro-war and anti-war.
“Each one of us here today is a significant slayer in a critical
and historic moment,” HCSPJ Advisor Dr. Gregory G. Reck said.
“History will look back at this moment in time and judge whether
we chose the revolutionary path of peace, justice, equality and
a common humanity or whether we remained complacently silent.”
Students from Mountain Pathways Montessori School spoke for peace
as well. |
“I don’t think
the war in Iraq is right. It’s killing too many innocent civilians
who have done nothing wrong, I really don’t want this war to
happen,” one of Pathways student said.
Another said, “I don’t believe in war. Just because I’m
a kid doesn’t mean I don’t know anything.”
“I hope this will mobilize students, make students aware that
it’s OK to have an opinion against that war and it’s necessary
for us as students to get more informed and spread our opinions
about the war and research the facts to back it up,” applied
physics master’s candidate and event co-organizer Matthew P.
Lawson said.
After the rally, the group took to the streets, carrying signs and
chanting messages of peace across campus.
Student protestor and senior industrial technology major Mark W.
Barron said he felt being a part of the event was important.
“[The protest] is to show the students just how many students
are against the war and our dedication to get out here and make
some noise, perhaps make fools out of ourselves for some people,”
Barron said.
As the protest passed Rivers Street, drivers acknowledged the protestors
by blowing their horns. Some students in residence halls yelled
negative comments about the group.
“It’s kind of pointless. I agree with the principle of
it, but this isn’t going to solve anything,” onlooker
and computer science major from Greensboro Ryan C. O’Callaghan
said. “It may increase morale, but won’t change anything
with the government, not at a college.”
“I don’t like it. I mean, you live in the greatest country
on earth. The reason it’s that way is because we are willing
to fight for what we believe in,” business major from East
Bend Seth R. Elliott said. “I don’t want to see a war
… It’s not going to accomplish anything, but to march
around with signs.”
“I don’t think that just having rallies does the trick.
I think you really need to have people to know that there’s
really something going on,” Gergen said. |
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