Over the last few weeks, Tufts students and faculty members have worked diligently to prepare for and organize a day of non-cooperation in opposition to the War in Iraq, which will occur on April 19. In this time, we have arranged to transform the day into one where we as a community are compelled not only to act in opposition to the occupation of Iraq, but to examine our own beliefs about the war and the movement to end it.
We have successfully galvanized support for our actions amongst a considerable percentage of the faculty members on campus, some of whom will participate in public demonstrations, teach-ins or other actions rather than teaching their classes.
However, Tufts Action for Peace (TAP), the group that is organizing the day's activities, has not been able to drum up the same amount of support from the student body. This unfortunate fact is largely because we have not sufficiently advertised the day or the events taking place throughout the day.
I do believe that there is another aspect that is stunting the growth of our on-campus anti-war movement: many students may be confused about exactly why they should walk out, what they can accomplish by walking out and what they can do to participate.
In an effort to clear up any confusion and dispel any rumors that may exist about the walk-out, I wish to explain what we hope the day will accomplish and why I, as a student activist, am planning not to attend classes this Thursday.
Let's set the stage. The war in Iraq is incredibly unpopular and costly, and the American public seems to have wanted it to end for some time. When you pair the war's unpopularity with its staggering human and financial cost, then consider the facts that our military's continued occupation does not appear to be limiting the size and scope of the ever-expanding civil war, it seems difficult to defend it.
It's hard to view our involvement at this point as anything but a destabilizing influence in the region and world, and it seems foolish for the public not to demand an end to our military escalation in Iraq.
However, the anti-war movement continues to suffer setbacks; we were astonished when the Democratic majority, which I believe was elected in part to end the war, offered President Bush more money in a supplemental spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan than he originally requested. Our rallies and demonstrations receive neither the press nor the results that we have been waiting on since before the war began.
With this in mind, anti-war activists on campus decided that a walk-out would highlight the urgency of ending the war. I believe I speak for many on campus when I say that we feel we cannot wait very much longer while our soldiers continue to serve bravely and suffer in hostile territory for nothing.
We can't stand idly by while Iraqi women and children continue to be subjected to some of the most traumatizing conditions imaginable, and while our tax money continues to disappear at a rate of around nearly $2 billion per week.
We are not protesting Tufts University, nor are we striking against our professors. We do not intend to disrupt the school's daily business or the April Open House. The day of non-cooperation is not an excuse for students to sleep in or defer commitments, an accusation which is upsetting for many activists who have spent much time and resources in making the day a success.
Instead, April 19 will be a day of action, education and dialogue. Members of the community will have a chance to rally against the war if they choose to leave campus. Students and faculty, even if they do not leave their classes, are invited to watch documentaries, attend teach-ins, listen to panels or even wear a button in opposition to the war.
The campus will be made into a place where, no matter what your political persuasion or moral inclination is, I hope you will be able to ask yourself why you take the stand on the war that you do, and can discuss your convictions with others.
I plan not to attend classes on Thursday, but that does not mean that I do not plan to learn. Tufts, if nothing else, strives to teach students to act on things they feel strongly about and, whenever possible, to learn through action and experience.
The day of non-cooperation will afford all participants of all levels of dedication and experience a ripe opportunity to do something worthwhile about one of the most significant events and/or issues that will haunt our generation.
So even if you do not plan to miss your classes on Thursday, I encourage you to come to some of our events. If you do not wish to do that, I request that you consider why you do not participate at all.
Whatever you do, do something. It means the world to me.
Gabe Frumkin is a freshman who has not yet declared a major.
