OCAW
Calls Students to Speak
To the Editors:
The Oberlin Coalition Against the War (OCAW) forced
Student Senate, with the help of Student Senator Jesse Kanson-Benanav,
to hold a referendum calling on students to voice their opinion
on the war. A ballot was placed in everyone’s OCMR box on
Thursday asking if you support the war against Iraq. Vote no! We
already know that the majority of students on campus do not support
this war, but by voting, we can officially voice this publicly.
Our goal of the referendum is to give the administration more leverage
to speak out publicly against the war, something we are trying to
pressure them to do. Other schools have already taken or are taking
the same initiative by passing similar student referendums. Historically,
Oberlin has taken a public stance on these types of important social
issues—it spoke out against the Vietnam war, and against Apartheid
in South Africa—and it is important for us as a college to
remain committed to them.
I am against this war because I am against all forms of violence,
but I’m especially against “preemptive” war and
killing innocent civilians. What do you think of this war? Speak
out! Personally, I think it is our duty to get involved and to give
something back to the world to balance what we were given, or what
we, as America, have taken. I acknowledge that there a lot of ways
to do this, and that there are a lot of other worthwhile activist
causes worth fighting for on this campus.
I hope though that if you’re not too busy with some other
activist group, you’ll try working with us. If you are interested
in getting involved with OCAW, we meet every Tuesday at 7:30 PM
in Wilder 110. In addition to forcing this referendum to be held,
organizing last Wednesday’s day of action, and sending people
to anti-war protests, we are organizing a large, regional peace
conference at Oberlin December 7th and 8th, we’re networking
with other schools, working in the community to build local support,
and other exciting things.
Our five points of unity are:
No to War on Iraq
End the sanctions on Iraq
Defend civil liberties
Money for jobs, education, healthcare
Commitment to anti-oppression
–Jordan Balagot
Conservatory senior
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