The small conference room of Kerckhoff Hall exploded with
thunderous applause Tuesday night as the undergraduate student
government voted to pass a resolution condemning a U.S. attack
against Iraq.
The resolution was approved with a 5-0-5 vote. All five
Undergraduate Students Association Council members from the Student
Empowerment! slate voted in favor of the resolution. The other
council members abstained from voting.
More than 50 students from various student groups stormed the
USAC general meeting to present the council with reasons to oppose
the war. The resolution was sponsored by Academics Affairs
Commissioner Chris Diaz, Internal Vice President T.J. Cordero and
Cultural Affairs Commissioner Robbie Clark.
Samahang Pilipino President Emerson Lego told the council about
the nation’s long-standing history of students taking stances
on political issues. From civil rights to the Vietnam War to the
apartheid issue, students have made a difference, Lego said.
“Students should utilize the resources they have to
benefit all of humanity,” he said.
Fourth-year student Sophia Kozak added that the resolution
received support from 15 different student organizations, and is
representative of student needs. More than 700 students signed a
petition against a possible war.
The overwhelming presence of anti-war sentiment was contended by
one meeting-goer.
Bruin Republican President Andy Jones, a former Daily Bruin
Viewpoint columnist, argued that from what he has observed, most
students are in favor of the war or don’t know the facts.
He added that USAC had no place to make any sort of policy
regarding the issue.
“This is not our fight … it is the fight of the
international councils,” he said.
But peace proponent Eric Tang said that it was students’
responsibility to get involved.
Fifth-year business economics and international development
studies student Ghaith Mahmood, who has family in Iraq, encouraged
USAC to make the connection between the war and students.
A war would result in increased military spending causing budget
cuts in education, health care and labor, Mahmood said.
Following the vote of approval, student group members, anti-war
posters in hand, continued their celebration out on the Kerckhoff
stairs applauding council and chanting calls for peace.
Council members were split on whether the student government
made the right decision.
General Representative Adam Harmetz said he abstained from
voting because he didn’t know how all undergraduate students
felt.
“I didn’t want my personal views to get in the
way,” he said.
General Representative Jenny Lam said although she was satisfied
with the outcome, she wished more council members would have
voted.
“A lot of students on campus have concerns and abstaining
to vote is like choosing to not voice those concerns,” Lam
said.
Some students expressed different views on the issue.
“I think we shouldn’t go to war, it just causes more
hate and pain,” said first-year business economics student
Laura Lin.
But fourth-year psychology student Jason Drew said that he
didn’t know enough about the issue to take a stance.
Both council members and students had varied opinions on whether
student government should take official stances of political
issues.
Harmetz said he felt that generally USAC should not take
political stances, but the Iraq issue is justified.
“We need to be very careful because (USAC taking)
political stances could marginalize students,” he said.
President David Dahle added that student council should use
caution when taking political stances and base its decision on
sufficient evidence from the student body.
“I do believe that the (student government) should take a
stance … war and violence are issues that divide and affect
students,” said Hadley Salz, fifth-year world arts and
culture student.
“If (USAC) takes an anti-war stance, it would be
encouraging peace,” Salz said.
Fourth-year political science and history student, Eric Haren
said he felt student government had no place commenting on matters
of foreign policy.
Haren added that students aren’t generally interested in
USAC decisions in the first place.
“You can look at USAC voter turnout and see that students
don’t care what USAC does,” he said.
In the past, USAC councils have set precedents for both sides of
the issue. Councils have both taken political stances as well as
opting to refrain from passing such resolutions.
In 2001, the council voted 10-0 to withdraw a resolution
condemning the Israeli government for alleged violations of
Palestinians’ human rights.
In the 1980s, student government passed a resolution urging the
University of California Regents to divest from South Africa in
protest of apartheid.