Moratorium should have been re-thought

The TCOWI-planned moratorium on classes has received mixed reviews since the concept was first announced. Many students have supported the idea, noting that it would give the entire campus the opportunity to educate each other and to engage in thoughtful discussion about the situation in Iraq. Others have opposed the plan, citing the responsibility of faculty to do their jobs in the traditional sense by conducting their classes as scheduled. Despite disagreements about the idea of a moratorium, one thing has always remained clear: if the moratorium were to be effective, it would have to be immediate.

Yes, the moratorium was planned as a type of "alternative" education, and an opportunity for debate, but it was also a dramatic statement of sorts. Canceling or leaving classes the day of or the day following the start of the war would have been a clear indication that the war had created an immediate change in the status quo. Participants in a moratorium the day of or the day after the start of the war would have been making a clear statement of opposition to US policy by effectively changing the course of their daily lives as immediately as possible.

Since the US began military action in Iraq during spring break, the idea of a moratorium no longer holds most of its potential to be an effective response to US policy. Most if not all members of the Tufts community have dealt with the war in some form already, either by keeping up with the news or discussing the situation with family and friends. Spring break was not "business as usual" this year for anyone.

Therefore, to come back and be presented with a moratorium on the first day of classes after a week away is counterproductive. Many students have already examined the war outside of the classroom. Now is the time to examine the war in the classroom. Certainly it would be beneficial for students to come together in some form in response to what has taken to place _ to honor the memories of those who have already lost their lives, to pray for the families of US soldiers _ but canceling classes is irrelevant to this goal. An event of this nature could, for example, take place as a night vigil, without interrupting the academic pursuits of the entire campus.

If faculty members feel that it is appropriate and productive, it would be advisable to spend class sessions today and perhaps tomorrow analyzing US actions and engaging in constructive, thoughtful discourse. But, leaving class today would be counterproductive to the academic goals of the Tufts community, and as an anti-war effort, will have very little impact given the timing of the event relative to the onset of the war.