The September 11th attack
UH initiative encourages peace as the proper path

By Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Education Writer

Don Baluran may epitomize the conflicted nature of a college peace movement in a post-Sept. 11 world.

Sakaran Krishna, a professor of political science at UH, speaks during a peace forum at Campus Center. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I'm actually for the bombing," Baluran said. "No. I'm more neutral. I'm opposed to any violence."

Eventually Baluran circled back to his original stance. "At one point you're going to have to protect yourself," he concluded.

Baluran and other college students are grappling with their feelings about the Sept. 11 attacks, the appropriateness of military action, possible limits on constitutional freedoms and the complexity of just how America can go to war with a multinational terrorist organization.

As they do, a substantial peace movement is growing at the Manoa campus. Although anti-war signs and big protests are noticeably absent, there are numerous discussion forums, petitions and vigils to take their place.

Many professors have organized to form violence-free zones where Muslim students can go if they feel threatened. The University Peace Initiative is sponsoring forums every Wednesday at the school's most crowded lunchtime spot. Dozens of leaflets circulating oppose the war, discourage racial profiling and outline peaceful alternatives to war.

And the Internet has allowed professors to hook into international organizations to share information. If they choose to do so, they can coordinate and strategize with peaceful protests in other parts of the country.

"I'm getting lots of e-mails," said Thaddeus Oliver, a doctorate student in political science. "I would say there is a pretty large peace movement on campus. Everybody is talking about this in some degree. You'll go into a communications class or a business administration class and they're talking about the events of Sept. 11."

His own class, "Introduction to World Politics," has talked about whether state-supported violence is legitimate, and the tactics of the terrorists.

"To the degree that there's a hotbed, we're probably it," said Meda Chesney-Lind, professor of women's studies. "It's really changed this generation. Always these political issues seemed fairly distant."

Sarah Toohey, 26, a master's student in second-language studies, knows she wants to take an active part in peaceful protest and a reexamination of U.S. foreign policy.

"I've been feeling really hurt and helpless because of what's happening. First, it was because of the World Trade Center and now it's because of the military action," Toohey said. "It's causing more civilian casualties. People seem to be buying into it. I don't understand why people aren't opening their eyes."

Toohey thinks this is a defining moment for college students. "One of my professors was an activist during the Vietnam War. She said, 'We've been waiting for you people to realize what's happening in the world.' "

Hard to take firm stand

But even among some people who come to the forums called "9/11: A Different Dialogue," there is a sense that with the country threatened by further terrorist attacks, this is a more complex discussion about possible solutions than the ones that occurred during the Gulf War in the 1990s or the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s.

Several students said it is hard for them to take a stand that falls strictly into the dove or hawk categories.

Jeff Bates, 21, a history and political science major, said he agrees with much of the criticism of U.S. policies abroad, but also believes that the United States is well intentioned.

"I think all of the stuff we do is trying to do good, but sometimes it doesn't work out," Bates said. He said he fears that the military action will only create more terrorists, but sees no other possible response. "We have to do something," he said. "I know killing people is a flawed philosophy. The social and economic problems should also be addressed."

In his class, Oliver said, there have been few arguments but lots of questions. "We're trying to make meaning out of global capitalism and the Muslim world," he said. "Everybody's scraping together their knowledge and what we're finding is that we don't know how to talk about this."

A T-shirt designed by members of the art department is spreading around campus; a peace sign with an American flag motif.

"That shows the schizophrenia," Chesney-Lind said. "It's the red, white and blue, but it's also the peace symbol. It's how people are feeling. The flag has become a way of signaling our response to all of those deaths. I think there's an enormous amount of discussion going on on campus about what's happening. It's very thoughtful."

Susan Hippensteele, professor of women's studies and one of the organizers of the University Peace Initiative, said one of the purposes of the group's activities is to foster a different kind of discussion, and one that allows all voices to be heard.

Peace gets little press

Peaceful protests nationwide have received little national media attention, she and others in the peace movement have noted.

"I was really disturbed at how one-sided all the discussion was. Everyone is talking about war, war, war and we've got to bomb and get rid of the evildoers," Hippensteele said. "On the 11th, the students' reactions were not, 'Let's bomb anybody.' They were all extremely sophisticated in their discussions. They talked about the role in the Middle East, why people might hate the United States and how the U.S. consumes so much of the world resources."

Eryn Hahn, 22, a fashion merchandising major, said she is eager to hear about alternatives to war. Many of her classes have stopped discussing the terrorist attacks and have returned to the regular syllabus.

"I think it's good that people on campus are addressing things we don't hear on the news," Hahn said. "On the 11th it was a big deal. People are getting sick of talking about it in class."

At some college campuses nationwide, peaceful protests have been large, quickly coordinated and visible.

In other areas, professors who have spoken out against U.S. policy or its leaders have been sharply rebuked by their campus administration or criticized by their students.

Although at Manoa the atmosphere has remained respectful — no one at the forums who discussed any range of viewpoints got boos or catcalls — some on campus are concerned that an open atmosphere won't last. Racial profiling, the targeting of international students and limits on free speech are some of the top concerns of those involved in the peace movement. They point to the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Hawai'i has experienced it

"Here we have the benefit of so many people who have lived under martial law, under military rule," Hippensteele said. "There is a currency to the discussion here that does not exist around other parts of the country."

Issues of globalization, sweatshop labor, the country's dependence on oil and some of the disastrous effects of the sanctions against Iraq are a major part of campus debates about the war.

Ibrahim Aoude, professor of ethnic studies, said he is concerned that U.S. military action could further destabilize the Middle East without doing anything to get rid of terrorists. "It gives the bin Ladens of the world further ground for recruitment," he said. "There is another way. Let's try to think of another way."

But some students like Erin Kakazu, 22, a sociology major, disagree almost entirely. "I'm all for bombing," Kakazu said, as she sat politely and listened to Aoude speak at the lunchtime forum. "My brother's in the military. You fight for freedom; it's not just something given to you."

English professor Ruth Hsu, who is one of the founders of the University Peace Initiative, said part of the group's goal is making sure that everyone — even those like Kakazu who disagree with the peace movement — will have a voice.

"A lot of people feel we would be justified in retaliation," Hsu said. "We're trying to carve out a space for different viewpoints."

Reach Jennifer Hiller at jhiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.