University of Texas student government joins antiwar advocates

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, it's his home state.  I think it's significant -- Fred

The Daily Texan
October 23, 2002

SG Adopts Resolution Opposing War


After hours of debate, assembly votes against use of force in Iraq by tight
margin

by P. Ryan Petkoff

Student Government passed a resolution Tuesday condemning any attack on Iraq
by the Bush administration after a heated debate and a narrow vote.

The assembly of hundreds roared as the 20-17 vote was read by Vice President
Stacey Kounelias.

"This makes the statement that the student body of the nation's largest
university and in Bush's hometown feels that an unprovoked war is wrong,"
said SG two-year at-large Representative Jordan Buckley, author of the
resolution and a key mediator in the evening's debate.


The anti-war resolution, thought by most representatives to stand little
chance of passing, condemns Saddam Hussein but opposes any pre-emptive
attack against Iraq.

The bitter debate fought not only the resolution, but the assembly's right
to vote on a resolution at all.

"For those of you who feel it is inappropriate to debate foreign policy
within the Student Government institution, please realize that it is more
inappropriate that people die at the hands of the United States," said Amber
Novak, a journalism graduate student.

The vote set a precedent for the assembly, said Buckley, who rallied support
until minutes before the meeting's start.

Ben Durham, a liberal arts representative, said supporting a preemptive
strike against the Iraqi people directly involved the University. Durham
cited the U.S. Energy Department's Academic Strategic Alliances Program,
which involves universities, he said, in the production and research of
weapons of mass destruction.

Advocates for the resolution argued that the United States has supported
Saddam previously, and a hunger for control of the world's oil supply
weighed heavily in its push for war.

Representatives would be held accountable for their vote, said Andrew Dobbs,
a communication studies freshman.

"We will make sure that whoever votes against this resolution will be out of
this room next year," Dobbs said.

Opposition rebuked the credibility of the resolution's declarations and its
authors. The Young Conservatives of Texas vehemently objected to any
variation from the congressional package passed last week and became irate
at claims that Bush mongers terrorism.

"It's a dark day for the diverse views that constitute this university,"
religious studies sophomore Austin Kinghorn said. "I thank the members that
opposed this."

SG President Katie King, who under procedure, could not vote on the issue,
yielded her chance to speak to Charles Ganske of the H.L. Menken Society, a
conservative campus group.

Ganske said his father, a veteran of two wars, performed a necessary duty
for his country. Ganske responded to questions of conscience of soldiers who
kill in conflict, saying the defense of U.S. freedoms could justify such
actions.

The resolution also condemned any racial backlash against persons of Middle
Eastern descent that might come as a result of war.

Some representatives and the Young Conservatives of Texas said a different
resolution could be seen in the assembly soon. Tuesday's proposal spawned
numerous questions of documentation and diction.

Students on both sides of the issue praised the assembly for facilitating
the open debate on such a pertinent issue.

"The point is we're debating the issue," Durham said.

Proponents of the resolution mobbed Buckley upon the result - the
culmination of the four-hour debate. Buckley said the entire situation was a
draining experience and a positive step for the peace movement and for
challenging the U.S. government's rush for war.

"I'm overwhelmed," Buckley said. "This is unbelievable."



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