In rallies and panel discussions, campus split after Bush's speech

The University community responded to President George W. Bush's congressional address Thursday evening in a chorus of dissonant voices, some fervently supportive of the nation's new campaign against terrorism and others denouncing the president's plan as brash and overly aggressive.

Touching on issues from racism against Muslims to the creation of a new Cabinet-level post devoted to domestic security, Bush vowed that the United States would avenge the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Students and faculty staged several events in response to the Sept. 11 incidents. On Friday afternoon, the Wilson School held a discussion on the economic, social and political consequences of the strikes, and the Princeton Peace Network held a rally in front of the Frist Campus Center. Yesterday, College Democrats and College Republicans sponsored a bipartisan forum on terrorism.

Many students voiced ardent support for the president, praising his leadership and diplomacy after the attacks.

"I feel like he's the Winston Churchill of my generation," vice-president of the Princeton College Republicans, Allison Ball '04, said. "He's being assertive without being aggressive, and he is uniting America. He really gave me confidence that America will prevail.

"His demands are necessary and absolutely appropriate," she added. "Bush is doing the Taliban justice by making those demands and by giving them the opportunity to help us."

Wilson School professor Richard Falk, who spoke at the peace rally, however, criticized Bush for perpetuating widespread American outrage in wake of the attacks.

"I was disappointed that [Bush's speech] seemed to intensify the war fever already gripping the country," he said.

While Falk agreed with Bush on the importance of not lashing back against Muslims, he argued that the speech may encourage counter extremism.

"He said some helpful things, like the need for tolerance of Islam and the need not to carry our struggle against terrorism into domestic society in the form of racial hatred," Falk said. "But he didn't give signals of restraint in advocating this war against terrorism."

Some students also questioned Bush's threat to wage war against the Taliban if it refuses to comply with the administration's demands.

"His action is one of ignorant haste which will only end up creating more problems rather than solving the global terrorist threat," peace rally participant Charles Greene '05 said.

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Wilson School Dean Michael Rothschild said the administration acted too quickly and on a seemingly insufficient foundation of evidence.

"They could spend more time making and developing the argument against [Osama] bin Laden," Rothschild said. "The U.S. government has not communicated what evidence it has in a convincing way."

Eric Wang '02, a member of the Princeton Committee Against Terrorism, however, expressed confidence in the government's investigation into the attacks and in its response to them.

"President Bush has given every indication that he has taken a deliberate and thoughtful approach," Wang, who is also a member of the Princeton College Republicans, said. "He's also been exploring diplomacy, law enforcement options and cooperation with other countries."

Though the widespread debate on campus may appear divisive and harmful to the University community, Falk said that such open discourse helps those affected cope with the trauma and serves an integral role in American democracy.

"We must not reproduce the feeling that there is no room for debate," he said.

"We need different ideas and voices, and Princeton has done a very, very good job of encouraging people to talk freely, to gain a deeper understanding of this issue and to come to terms with grief," he added.