Universities are institutions with freedom of speech and inquiry; tolerant of all beliefs; encouraging diversity of opinions.
Sez who? Why university administrators, faculty and students who justify any outrageous statement, research inquiry or activity as long as it meets politically correct liberal standards. But when it doesn't——freedom of speech, tolerance and diversity be damned. OUT! OUT! OUT!
That was the reaction when military recruiters tried to set up shop at the University of California, Santa Cruz job fair alongside major corporations, hospitals and other places of employment. As military careers are a major non politically correct behavior the anti war protestors were literally out in force, literally chasing them away.
But what about choice? What about students who might be interested in exploring a career in the Army?
But at least one student, Cody James, said he was disappointed that he couldn't get in to speak with the military personnel.
"It's frustrating,'' said James, a senior majoring in politics. "I'm not a Republican. I'm not a conservative. I don't support the war. It's about finding a career."
Majestically replying
Students Against War members said they were pleased that their counter—recruiting effort forced the military personnel off campus, at least for the time being.
"We're saying it's not OK to recruit on high school campuses, it's not OK to recruit on university campuses,'' Marla Zubel, a UC Santa Cruz senior and member of Students Against War, said. "In order to stop the war, you have to make it more difficult to wage war."
These students should be prosecuted for interfering with a recognized student activity; not only is this probably illegal, if no action is pursued, it will happen again.
Also troubling is how quickly the military fled; the apparent lack of planning for this type of protest. While understandable certainly the military and university administrators should be able to avoid this in the future; to make it perfectly clear that anti war activity has a defined place on campus only and that pluralism is alive and well on campus.
Ethel C. Fenig 4 13 06
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