Possibility of war provokes both passion, indifference

With the likelihood of war against Iraq growing with every breaking news report, the sentiment at the University has been decidedly mixed.

A walk by the television screen in Frist Campus Center reveals the contradiction: during busy lunch hours, the channel is turned to ESPN, yet later, in off-peak times, CNN reporters can be heard relaying the latest news.

Aside from a certain indifference in television watching, some University students and professors have taken an activist approach. Recent campus actions include a display board in Frist featuring articles about the Middle East, a trip to a protest in New York, and various rallies and petitions.

Also, the Lysistrata Project — a Greek play read in protest of war in Iraq — was staged last Monday to a considerable audience.

"I think there is a lot of interest and engagement by students in opposing a possible war with Iraq. Many students went to the march in New York," Zia Mian, lecturer at the Wilson School, said in an email. "Since then, there has continued to be a good turnout at peace movement events on and around campus — such as the reading of Lysistrata the other night."

However, students in Frist were more skeptical about the campus response to current events.

"I feel that we're in a bubble — people are not really paying attention to the outside world," Kristen Williams '04 said, adding that she does not always follow the news, but "if it's on, I'll watch a bit of it."

The idea that students reside in a sheltered world apart from the "real world," a continual criticism of college campuses, seems to apply to a degree at the University. The lack of direct involvement by students in taking up participation in and debating current affairs is often stated as a main cause.

"I think some of us try to pay attention to the news, but it's very easy for a lot of us to remain isolated here," Erica Lee '06 said of the level of awareness of students on campus.

Katy Glenn '05, one of the protesters who traveled to New York, voiced the problem of a lack of discussion of current issues, as well.

Matt Bieber '04 disagreed. "There is a large segment of the population that is paying attention."

Despite an observed low level of student participation in general, events such as the antiwar rally planned for Saturday by the Princeton Peace Network, campus lectures and discussions sponsored by the Global Issues Forum display a nonetheless vital interest in world issues.

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"I think the fact that the play was put on is evidence of the fact that people are open to discussion," said Tarryn Chun '06, a producer of Lysistrata. "It's dawning on people and they are becoming more aware as it gets closer to home."

Although Chun expressed disappointment in the limited number of people that stayed after the play for the discussion, she articulated the hope of others who still see the potential for intellectual revolution on college campuses.

"Hopefully this will cause a ripple effect," Chun said.